RADIOCARBON‐DATED DESTRUCTION LAYERS: A SKELETON FOR IRON AGE CHRONOLOGY IN THE LEVANT
Abstract
Summary We present a full‐sequence radiocarbon‐based chronological system for the Iron Age in the Levant, anchored on the dating of ten destruction layers for the years 1130–730 BC. We establish the sequence using two methods – the ‘uncalibrated weighted average’ and the Bayesian modelling. Utilizing four dating tools in combination – radiocarbon measurements, field stratigraphy, pottery typology and ancient Near Eastern historical records – facilitates solutions to chronological problems that are far beyond the resolving power of 14C dating alone. The results shed light on disputed issues related to biblical and ancient Near Eastern history, such as the expansion of the early Israelite polity from the highlands to the lowlands; the nature of the Shoshenq I campaign to Canaan; and the evolution of the conflict between northern Israel and Aram Damascus.
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Destruction layers are often reliably dated through radiocarbon analysis or historical records and thus serve as chronological anchors for entire sites or broader regions.
“They are often reliably dated through radiocarbon analysis or historical records and thus serve as chronological anchors for entire sites or even broader regions (Finkelstein and Piasetzky 2009).”
From Pre‐Excavation Identification and Dating of Iron Age Destruction Events (2025) · cites this paper as Finkelstein and Piasetzky 2009
Archaeomagnetic studies of destruction layers, as well as radiocarbon dating of such layers, were carried out only after the layers had been exposed by excavation.
“Archaeomagnetic studies of destruction layers, as well as radiocarbon dating of such layers (Finkelstein and Piasetzky 2009), were carried out only after the layers had been exposed by excavation.”
From Pre‐Excavation Identification and Dating of Iron Age Destruction Events (2025) · cites this paper as Finkelstein and Piasetzky 2009
Cites
Gilboa, A., & Sharon, I. (2003) · Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research · doi:10.2307/1357808 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Sub-dividing the Iron Age IIA in northern Israel: a suggested solution to the chronological debate
Herzog, Z., & Singer-Avitz, L. (2006) · Tel Aviv · doi:10.1179/tav.2006.2006.2.163 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
<sup>14</sup>C Dates and the Iron Age Chronology of Israel: A Response
Mazar, A., & Bronk Ramsey, C. (2008) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s0033822200033506 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
A preliminary study of the Mycenaean IIIC:1 pottery assemblages from Tel Miqne-Ekron and Ashdod.
Dothan, T., & Zukerman, A. (2004) · Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research · doi:10.2307/1357793 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
An Abecedary of the Mid-Tenth Century B.C.E. from the Judaean Shephelah
Tappy, R. E., McCarter, P. K., Lundberg, M. J., & Zuckerman, B. (2006) · Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research · doi:10.1086/basor25066976 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
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Shaar, R., Tauxe, L., Ron, H., Ebert, Y., Zuckerman, S., Finkelstein, I., & Agnon, A. (2016) · Earth and Planetary Science Letters · doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2016.02.038 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Self-citationIron 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
Shaar, R., Hassul, E., Raphael, K., Ebert, Y., Segal, Y., Eden, I., Vaknin, Y., Marco, S., Nowaczyk, N. R., Chauvin, A., et al. (2018) · Frontiers in Earth Science · doi:10.3389/feart.2018.00164 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
The Beth Shean Valley and its Vicinity in the 10th Century BCE
Mazar, A. (2021) · Jerusalem Journal of Archaeology · doi:10.52486/01.00001.10 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Pre‐Excavation Identification and Dating of Iron Age Destruction Events
Vaknin, Y., Granot, R., Shalom, N., Buzaglo‐Yoresh, E., Keidar‐Goldberg, A., & Münger, S. (2025) · Archaeological Prospection · doi:10.1002/arp.70003 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- FINKELSTEIN, I., & PIASETZKY, E.
- Affiliations
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- Venue
- Oxford Journal of Archaeology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2009-07-14
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 255-274
- ISSN
- 0262-5253 (ISSN-L)
- 1468-0092
- OpenAlex
- W2075470830
- Cited by
- 79
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 5.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Oxford Journal of Archaeology (publishedVersion)
- 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 › Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
- Keywords
- Iron Age chronology, Levant, destruction layers, radiocarbon dating, Bayesian modelling, weighted average, ceramic typology, stratigraphy, ancient Near Eastern history, biblical history
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