Tell Es-Sultan (Jericho): Radiocarbon Results of Short-Lived Cereal and Multiyear Charcoal Samples from the End of the Middle Bronze Age

The 19 earlier dates from the British Museum laboratory are among those measured during a period for which a systematic uncertainty has been identified, which affects their reliability.

“Unfortunately, these 19 dates are among those measured in the British Museum laboratory during a period for which a systematic uncertainty has been identified, which affects their reliability (Tite et a1.1987;Bowman, Ambers and Leese 1990).”

• cites Tite et al. 1987 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Bowman, Ambers and Leese 1990 sourceSupported

The high-precision 14C dates have small standard deviations (1σ) ranging between 15 and 25.

“The high-precision dates have small standard deviations (1 Q), ranging between 15 and 25.”

The 12 14C dates of 10 charcoal samples from the end of the Middle Bronze Age gave surprisingly uniform dates.

“The 1214C dates of 10 char- coal samples from the end of the MBA gave surprisingly uniform dates (Table 1, Fig. 1).”

One charcoal date is an outlier: 3614 ± 20 BP (GrN-18538).

“The one exception (GrN-18538) consists of the coarse fraction (>0.425 mm)”

• Also stated in: § Short-Lived Grains · plain

  “Only one charcoal date is an outlier (3614 ± 20 BP, GrN-18538), for which we have no explanation other than the possibility that the coarse charcoal fragments contained old wood.”

The weighted average 14C dates of the short-lived grains and multiyear charcoal have standard deviations smaller than those of the calibration curves and the absolute standard of oxalic acid.

“Both dates are more precise than the standard deviation (Q) of the calibration curves and the absolute standard of oxalic acid.”

• Also stated in: § Short-Lived Grains · plain

  “The weighted averages of the short-lived grains and multiyear charcoal samples have standard devi- ations which are smaller than those of the calibration curves and the absolute standard of oxalic acid!”

• Also stated in: § Short-Lived Grains · plain

  “The standard deviations of the weighted averages are more precise than the 1-Q uncertainty of the calibration curves and the absolute stan- dard of oxalic acid.”

The very precise BP dates coincide with horizontal segments (wiggles) in all calibration curves used.

“However, the very precise BP dates coincide with horizontal segments (wiggles) in all calibration curves used.”

The six samples of short-lived cereal grains yielded homogeneous dates.

“The six samples of short-lived cereal grains also yielded homogeneous dates (Table 1, Fig. 1), with standard deviations between 14 and 25.”

The multiyear charcoal dates are on average 64 14C years older than the short-lived cereal dates.

“The charcoal dates are on the average 6414C years older than the cereal dates.”

The weighted average 14C date of the multiyear charcoal samples (excluding outlier GrN-18538) from the end of the Middle Bronze Age at Tell es-Sultan is 3370 ± 6 BP.

“The multiyear charcoal yielded, as expected, a somewhat older average: 3370 ± 6 BP.”

• Also stated in: § Multiyear Charcoal · plain

  “The average 14C date of the 11 charcoal samples has a very small uncertainty: 3370 ± 6 BP.”

• Also stated in: § Short-Lived Grains · plain

  “The weighted average date of the multiyear charcoal (3370 ± 6 BP) becomes considerably less precise after calibration, due to wiggles in the calibration curves.”

The weighted average 14C date of the six short-lived cereal grain samples from the end of the Middle Bronze Age at Tell es-Sultan is 3306 ± 7 BP.

“The weighted average 14C date of the short-lived grains is 3306 ± 7 BP.”

• Also stated in: § Short-Lived Grains · hedged

  “The resulting date, 3306 ± 7 BP, is both pre- cise and probably accurate to signify the destruction of MBA Jericho in 14C years (Fig. 3).”

• Also stated in: § Short-Lived Grains · plain

  “The weighted average of the cereal samples is much more pre- cise in 14C years, 3306 ± 7 BP, than in historical years, due to wiggles in the calibration curves.”

The δ13C values of the charcoal samples range from -24.36 to -26.28.

“The S13C values range from -24.36 to -26.28.”

Calibration of the weighted average of the grain samples results in ranges in both the 17th and 16th century BC, using the 1986 versions of the two calibration curves.

“Calibration of the weighted average of the grain samples results in ranges in both the 17th and 16th century BC, using the 1986 versions of the two calibration curves.”

Using the decadal calibration curve to calculate the historical date of the weighted average of the grain samples, with the aid of the OxCal computer calibration program, there is equal probability for the 1σ result to be in the range 1601 to 1566 cal BC as in the range 1561 to 1524 cal BC for the destruction of Middle Bronze Age Jericho.

“Using this calibration curve to calculate the historical date of the weighted aver- age of the grain samples, with the aid of the OxCal computer calibration program, there is equal probability for the 1 Q result to be in the range 1601 to 1566 cal BC as in the range 1561 to 1524 cal BC for the destruction of MBA Jericho.”

Using the 1993 calibration curve of Pearson and Stuiver, the calibrated result for the multiyear charcoal gives two ranges within the 17th century BC: 1678-1670 cal BC (0.24) and 1659-1632 cal BC (0.76).

“If one chooses the 1993 calibration curve of Pearson and Stuiver, the calibrated result gives two ranges within the 17th century BC: 1678-1670 cal BC (0.24) and 1659-1632 cal BC (0.76).”

Using the OxCal computer calibration program, the 1986 curve gives an age range for the weighted average of the multiyear charcoal samples of 1732-1722 cal BC (0.24) and 1691-1673 cal BC (0.76).

“Using the OxCal computer calibration program, the 1986 curve gives an age range in the latter part of the 18th century BC and in the 17th century BC: 1732-1722 cal BC (0.24)1 and 1691-1673 cal BC (0.76).”

The archaeological dating of Jericho's destruction by Watzinger (1926) and Kenyon (1957) falls within the preliminary calibrated ranges.

“The archaeological dating of Jericho's destruction by Watzinger (1926) and Kenyon (1957) falls within the preliminary calibrated ranges.”

• cites Watzinger (1926)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

• cites Kenyon (1957)Not checked — no full text of the source

The 1993 version of Stuiver and Becker produces considerably younger dates than their 1986 decadal calibration curve.

“The 1993 version of Stuiver and Becker produces considerably younger dates than their 1986 decadal calibration curve.”

• cites Stuiver and Becker 1986, 1993Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

The short-lived grain samples are all associated with the same event, the final destruction and conflagration that terminated Middle Bronze Age Jericho, i.e., stratigraphic phase HAEXII-XIII.Iii.liii.

“The samples are all associated with the same event, the final destruction and conflagration that terminated MBA Jericho, i.e., stratigraphic phase HAEXII-XIII.Iii.liii(Kenyon 1981).”

• cites Kenyon 1981Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

The average charcoal date probably signifies the last building phase at area H of Middle Bronze Age Jericho, prior to its destruction.

“The result probably signifies the last building phase at area H of MBA Jericho, prior to its destruction.”

All the charcoal samples seem to have become charred by the same event, the final destruction and conflagration of Middle Bronze Age Jericho.

“All the charcoal samples seem to have become charred by the same event, the final destruction and conflagration of MBA Jericho.”

The 1993 version of the bidecadal calibration curve by Pearson and Stuiver gives somewhat younger ages than the 1986 calibration curve.

“The 1993 version of the bidecadal calibration curve by Pearson and Stuiver gives somewhat younger ages than the 1986 calibration curve.”

• cites Pearson and Stuiver 1986, 1993Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

The weighted average date of the six grain samples, 3306 ± 7 BP, is probably accurate to signify the destruction of Middle Bronze Age Jericho in 14C years.

“The resulting date, 3306 ± 7 BP, is both pre- cise and probably accurate to signify the destruction of MBA Jericho in 14C years (Fig. 3).”

Most grains probably date to the last harvest preceding the destruction and conflagration of the tell.

“Most grains probably date to the last harvest preceding the destruction and conflagration of the tell.”

The preliminary calibrated dates are considerably less precise than the BP date in 14C years.

“The preliminary calibrated dates are, therefore, considerably less precise than the BP date in 14C years.”

The weighted average date of the multiyear charcoal (3370 ± 6 BP) becomes considerably less precise after calibration, due to wiggles in the calibration curves.

“The weighted average date of the multiyear charcoal (3370 ± 6 BP) becomes considerably less precise after calibration, due to wiggles in the calibration curves.”

The fortified Bronze Age city at Tell es-Sultan was not destroyed by ca. 1400 BC, as Wood (1990) suggested.

“Further, the fortified Bronze Age city at Tell es-Sultan was not destroyed by ca.1400 BC, as Wood (1990) suggested.”

• cites Wood (1990)Not matched

  Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

The calibrated date of the multiyear charcoal may reflect the time of rebuilding at the Tell (phase XII.Ii) in Squares H II, III, VI.

“The calibrated date of the multiyear charcoal may reflect the time of rebuilding at the Tell (phase XII.Ii) in Squares H II, III, VI.”

The age of the short-lived cereal samples is likely to be within a few years of the destruction date of the last Middle Bronze Age city at Tell es-Sultan.

“The age of the short-lived cereal samples is likely to be within a few years of the destruction date of the last MBA city at Tell es-Sultan.”

The weighted average of the cereal samples is much more precise in 14C years, 3306 ± 7 BP, than in historical years, due to wiggles in the calibration curves.

“The weighted average of the cereal samples is much more pre- cise in 14C years, 3306 ± 7 BP, than in historical years, due to wiggles in the calibration curves.”

The two homogeneous data sets of the cereal and charcoal samples indicate that the high-precision BP dates related to the end of Middle Bronze Age Jericho are reliable.

“The two homogeneous data sets of the cereal and charcoal samples indicate that the high-precision BP dates related to the end of MBA Jericho are reliable.”