The Chronology of Tell El-Daba: A Crucial Meeting Point of14C Dating, Archaeology, and Egyptology in the 2nd Millennium BC

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Volcanic vents exhale CO2 depleted in 14C.

“It is well known that volcanic vents exhale C0 2 depleted in 14 C (e.g.Bruns et al. 1980;Pasquier-Cardin et al. 1999)”

• cites Bruns et al. 1980 sourceSupported
• cites Pasquier-Cardin et al. 1999 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

A general contribution of the hardwater effect has either not been observed or is very small.

“A general contribution of the so-called hardwater effect, i.e. the incorporation of carbon depleted in 14 C from water into plants through the roots, has either not been observed (Tauber 1983) or is very small (Ford et al. 2007).”

• cites Tauber 1983 sourceSupported
• cites Ford et al. 2007 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Despite extensive efforts to establish global starting conditions for the time range of 14C dating, there sometimes remains the question of possible deviations from the calibration curve by regional effects.

“Despite extensive efforts to establish global starting conditions for the time range of 14 C dating (Reimer et al. 2009), there sometimes remains the question of possible deviations from the calibration curve by regional effects.”

• cites Reimer et al. 2009 sourceSupported

May combine two claims.

A clear hiatus and abandonment of the Tell el-Daba site was identified with the beginning of the New Kingdom (Ahmose), resulting in the datum line at -1530 BC.

“A clear hiatus and abandonment of the Tell el-Daba site was identified with the beginning of the New Kingdom (Ahmose), resulting in the datum line at -1530 BC.”

May combine two claims.

The 14C ages from Oxford agree with the Vienna ones within the 1σ uncertainties, except for one (OxA-15901), which shows a 2σ deviation.

“The 14 C ages from Oxford agree with the Vienna ones within the 1σ uncertainties, except for one (OxA-15901), which shows a 2σ deviation.”

May combine two claims.

The calibrated 95.4% probability ranges of the 14C dates are shifted to one side, indicating older ages.

“It is evident that the calibrated 95.4% probability ranges of the 14 C dates are shifted to one side, indicating older ages.”

May combine two claims.

At Tell el-Daba, the difference between the chronology based on 14C dates and the one based on archaeological evidence linked to the Egyptian historical chronology is about 120 yr and has not been solved.

“Despite great efforts, the difference of about 120 yr between the chronology based on 14 C dates and the one based on archaeological evidence linked to the Egyptian historical chronology has not been solved.”

• Also stated in: § DISCUSSION · plain

  “The resulting distribution shows an age offset centering at 120 yr, with negligible probability for offsets smaller than 100 yr (Figure 5).”

May combine two claims.

The Tell el-Daba samples are from seed material of plants that grow above ground and take up CO2 from the air.

“The Tell el-Daba samples are from seed material of plants that grow above ground, and take up C0 2 from the air.”

May combine two claims.

For AMS-25 in the 4th line one finds 25%, whereas most samples are at the 2 to 4% level, which means that the applied model agrees very well with the measured data.

“For example, for AMS-25 in the 4th line one finds 25%, whereas most samples are at the 2 to 4% level, which means that the applied model agrees very well with the measured data.”

May combine two claims.

The probability distribution of an assumed constant age offset needed to obtain agreement between the unsequenced 14C results and the archaeological-historical dates centers at 120 yr, with negligible probability for offsets smaller than 100 yr.

“The resulting distribution shows an age offset centering at 120 yr, with negligible probability for offsets smaller than 100 yr (Figure 5).”

May combine two claims.

The agreement between humic acid and ABA-pretreated samples indicates significant integrity of the samples, essentially excluding any contamination by humic acids from the environment.

“This indicates a significant integrity of the samples, essentially excluding any contamination by humic acids from the environment.”

May combine two claims.

Only charred material from archaeological settings was selected, making it unlikely that the material was transported by Nile water from other locations.

“Only charred material from archaeological settings was selected, i.e. the result of human activity, which makes it unlikely that the material was transported by Nile water from other locations.”

May combine two claims.

The archaeological evidence favors a Thera eruption date after the beginning of the New Kingdom in Egypt, around 1500 BC or perhaps around 1530 BC.

“The archaeological evidence, on the other hand, favors an eruption date after the beginning of the New Kingdom in Egypt, which places the Thera eruption around 1500 BC (Bietak and Höflmayer 2007), or somewhat earlier, perhaps around 1530 BC (Warren 2009).”

• cites Bietak and Höflmayer 2007Not matched

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

• cites Warren 2009 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

Even with the best possible archaeological knowledge, assignment of samples to a particular phase cannot be absolutely certain, and redundant plant seeds produced upwards from ancient pits or foundation ditches cannot be recognized.

“Even though the assignment of the samples to a particular phase was made with the best possible archaeological knowledge, one can never be absolutely certain about such assignments.For example, redundant plant seeds produced upwards from ancient pits or foundation ditches cannot be recognized.”

Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

Splits of 5 samples were measured independently at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit to check for a possible laboratory bias.

“In order to check for a possible laboratory bias, splits of 5 samples were measured independently at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, with their results also listed in Table la.”

May combine two claims.

The datum line at -1868 BC is from an inscription on a stela describing the 5th year of the reign of Sesostris III, providing a link to the Middle Kingdom.

“The datum line at -1868 BC is from an inscription on a stela describing the 5th year of the reign of Sesostris III, thus providing a link to the Middle Kingdom.”

May combine two claims.

Only annual grasses (Poaceae) from samples exhibiting no signs of disturbance were selected for analysis, verified by the absence of microscopic abnormalities in the matrix from which the seeds were recovered.

“Only annual grasses (Poaceae) from samples exhibiting no signs of disturbance were selected for analysis.The latter condition was verified by the absence of microscopic abnormalities in the matrix from which the seeds were recovered.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Preliminary results from Bayesian sequencing of 14C dates from the well-established stratigraphic excavation in Aegina Kolonna are inconclusive as to whether there exists an offset between the historical chronology and the 14C data.

“Preliminary results from Bayesian sequencing of 14 C dates from the well-established stratigraphie excavation in Aegina Kolonna on an island 50 km south of Athens are inconclusive as to whether there exists an offset between the historical chronology and the 14 C data (Wild et al. 2010).”

• cites Wild et al. 2010Not matched

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

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

In lucky circumstances, one has datum lines like the 5th year of Sesostris III (the construction of the Temple of Ezbet Rushdi, beginning of Phase K) or the conquest of Avaris (end of phase D/2) at Tell el-Daba.

“In lucky circumstances, one has datum lines like the 5th year of Sesostris III (the construction of the Temple of Ezbet Rushdi, beginning of Phase K) or the conquest of Avaris (end of phase D/2) at Tell el-Daba.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

There may still be hidden systematic effects we have not yet detected, no matter how sure we are about the respective results.

“No matter how sure we are about the respective results, there may still be hidden systematic effects we have not yet detected.”

May combine two claims.

Tell el-Daba is clearly one of the places with serious discrepancies, but a similar disagreement exists for the date of the Santorini eruption.

“Tell el-Daba is clearly one of these places, but a similar disagreement exists for the date of the Santorini eruption.”

May combine two claims.

Even if there were some dead-carbon uptake from water causing the 120-yr shift, it would probably also have appeared in the Oxford measurements, because essentially all freshwater in Egypt is supplied by the Nile.

“Even if there would be some dead-carbon uptake from water causing the 120-yr shift, it would probably also have appeared in the Oxford measurements (Bronk Ramsey et al. 2010), because essentially all freshwater in Egypt is supplied by the Nile.”

• cites Bronk Ramsey et al. 2010 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

While direct comparison of 14C dating with dynastic Egypt led to a good agreement with the historical Egyptian chronology, there are serious discrepancies at places where the absolute timescale of an archaeological excavation has been established by specific links to the Egyptian chronology.

“While the direct comparison of 14 C dating with dynastic Egypt led to a good agreement with the historical Egyptian chronology (Bronk Ramsey et al. 2010), there are serious discrepancies at places where the absolute timescale of an archaeological excavation has been established by specific links to the Egyptian chronology.”

• cites Bronk Ramsey et al. 2010 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

The Late Bronze Age shipwreck of Uluburun off the south coast of Turkey was investigated by combining 14C dating and dendrochronology.

“Recently, the Late Bronze Age shipwreck of Uluburun off the south coast of Turkey was investigated by combining 14 C dating and dendrochronology (Manning et al. 2009b).”

• cites Manning et al. 2009bNot matched

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

May combine two claims.

A general offset of the order of 100 yr for 14C dates in Egypt can be ruled out, because a good agreement has been found between 14C dates of short-lived organic material directly linked to the Egyptian historical chronology.

“Since a good agreement has been found between the 14 C dates of short-lived organic material directly linked to the Egyptian historical chronology (Bronk Ramsey et al. 2010), a general offset of the order of 100 yr for 14 C dates in Egypt can be ruled out.”

• cites Bronk Ramsey et al. 2010 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

Archaeological dating depends primarily on the seriation of pottery obtained from well-dated assemblages and the seriation at the site, where the changing market situation in specific phases is evaluated by the quantification of ceramic or metal types that occur in the same time context in repetitive proportions.

“Archaeological dating, on the other hand, depends primarily on the seriation of pottery obtained from well-dated assemblages and the seriation at the site, where the changing market situation in specific phases is evaluated by the quantification of ceramic or metal types that occur in the same time context in repetitive proportions.”

May combine two claims.

Both the olive tree and samples from the volcanic destruction layer in Akrotiri grew far away from known volcanic vents; therefore, a dead carbon contribution is unlikely for these samples.

“Both the olive tree (Friedrich et al. 2006) and samples from the volcanic destruction layer in Akrotiri (Manning et al. 2006) grew far away from known volcanic vents; therefore, a dead carbon contribution is unlikely for these samples.”

• cites Friedrich et al. 2006 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source
• cites Manning et al. 2006 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

• AssumptionRests on an assumption: The effect of volcanic CO2 depletion disappears a few hundred meters from the vent.

May combine two claims.

The Uluburun date is consistent with the find of a scarab from Nefertiti in the shipwreck, since her husband king Akhenaten reigned from 1352 to 1336 BC.

“This date is consistent with the find of a scarab from Nefertiti in the shipwreck, since her husband king Akhenaten (Echnaton, Amenhotep IV) reigned from 1352 to 1336 BC (Shaw 2000).”

• cites Shaw 2000 sourceNot checked — no full text of the source

May combine two claims.

In the LHI/II part of the Aegina Kolonna sequence, the 14C data may indicate a shift to older ages and may thus favor the science-based chronology.

“According to the 14 C data, the beginning of the Middle Helladic I period (MHI) is concordant with the historical chronology, whereas in the LHI/II part of the sequence the 14 C data may indicate a shift to older ages and may thus favor the science-based chronology.”

• cites Wild et al. 2010Not matched

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

Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

The 14C clock is based on a well-established physical law (radioactive decay), which is not affected by environmental conditions, but it requires detailed knowledge of the starting conditions, i.e. the 14C content of the sample before the clock starts running.

“Although the 14 C clock is based on a well-established physical law (radioactive decay), which is not affected by environmental conditions, it requires detailed knowledge of the starting conditions, i.e. the 14 C content of the sample before the clock starts running.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

Archaeology in the east Mediterranean is built up on numerous check points leading to a consistent network of relative chronologies across the whole area, and several links to the Egyptian historical chronology provide an absolute timeframe.

“On the other hand, archaeology in the east Mediterranean is built up on numerous check points leading to a consistent network of relative chronologies across the whole area, and several links to the Egyptian historical chronology provide an absolute timeframe.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Dates can be determined by inscribed material such as names of pharaohs that are used as termini post quos.

“In addition, dates can be determined by inscribed material such as names of pharaohs that are used as termini post quos.”

May combine two claims.

Although it seems unlikely that the 120-yr shift of Tell el-Daba can be explained by a regional effect, on the basis of the current 14C results it cannot be definitely excluded.

“Although it seems unlikely that the 120-yr shift of Tell el-Daba can be explained by such a regional effect, on the basis of the current 14 C results it cannot be definitely excluded.”

Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

Cross-dates with other better-dated contexts of the same type also play an important role.

“Cross-dates with other betterdated contexts of the same type also play an important role.”