Radiocarbon dating the “Wilderness of Zin.”
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An important archaeological survey was conducted by Leonard Woolley and T E Lawrence in 1914 on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund in the Negev and northeastern Sinai deserts—the “Wilderness of Zin.” The region of Ain Kadeis, associated by some scholars in the 19th century with biblical Kadesh-Barnea, received much attention in their survey and discussions. Concerning the vexed question of Kadesh-Barnea, Woolley and Lawrence gave their preference for the nearby Ain el Qudeirat Valley, and in particular the ancient tell. Their survey contributed significantly in the shaping of scholarly opinion on the matter, even until today. But modern surveys and excavations failed to identify any archaeological remnants of the 2nd millennium BCE in the above regions, thereby putting the above associations in question. The Middle Bronze Age II, Late Bronze Age, and Iron Age I that cover this millennium are considered missing in the area in archaeological terms. However, our research reveals that archaeological remains of the 2nd millennium BCE do exist in the region, as determined chronologically by radiocarbon dating. A geoarchaeological approach is required to investigate terraced fields in wadis, which contain a unique record of human activity in these desert regions.
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Another measurement from Kadesh Barnea, from a short-lived sample dated 2930 ± 30 BP, probably originated from an earlier, pre-Iron IIA stratum at the site.
“Another measurement from Kadesh Barnea was obtained from a short-lived sample; however, the sample (dated 2930 ± 30 BP-Bruins and van der Plicht 2007) probably originated from an earlier, pre-Iron IIA stratum at the site (Singer-Avitz 2008:77).”
From Radiocarbon Results from the Iron IIA Site of Atar Haroa in the Negev Highlands and their Archaeological and Historical Implications (2010) · cites this paper as Bruins and van der Plicht 2007
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Gilboa, A., & Sharon, I. (2003) · Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research · doi:10.2307/1357808 · Cited by 141 · cited 1× · see citing works
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Boaretto, E., Finkelstein, I., & Shahack-Gross, R. (2010) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s0033822200044982 · Cited by 50 · see citing works
Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Reply
Bruins, H. J., Nijboer, A. J., & van der Plicht, J. (2011) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s0033822200034470 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Self-citationKleiman, S., Kleiman, A., & Ben-Yosef, E. (2017) · Tel Aviv · doi:10.1080/03344355.2017.1357313 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bruins, H. J., & van der Plicht, J.
- Affiliations
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (IL)
- ORCID
- Bruins, Hendrik J
- Venue
- Radiocarbon
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2007
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 481-497
- ISSN
- 0033-8222 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-5755
- OpenAlex
- W1958504959
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 1.60
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Radiocarbon (publishedVersion)
- UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) (acceptedVersion)
- University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Funders
- Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Biblical Studies and Interpretation
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeology and Historical Studies
- Keywords
- Negev, 2nd millennium BC, Middle Bronze Age II, Late Bronze Age, Iron Age I, radiocarbon dating, geoarchaeology, terraced fields, wadis, desert archaeology, Leonard Woolley, T. E. Lawrence, biblical archaeology
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