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Cited by 3Archaeology and ancient environmental studiesAncient Egypt and ArchaeologyAncient and Medieval Archaeology Studies

Radiocarbon Evidence for New Kingdom Tombs: Sedment 254 and 246

Open access
Franzmeier, H., Höflmayer, F., Kutschera, W., Wild, E. M.·2013·Ägypten und Levante
DOI 10.1553/aeundl21s15
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Abstract

Although the radiocarbon method was originally developed using archaeological objects from Egypt, up until recently radiocarbon dating has not been used extensively in the Nile Valley, leaving the dating of archaeological contexts mainly reliant on inscriptions bearing royal names or archaeological material – usually pottery. The most substantial radiocarbon sequence for a single site was established for Tell el-Dabca, ancient Avaris, in the Eastern Nile Delta; although still unpublished, preliminary reports suggest a substantial difference between archaeological and scientific dates of up to ~120 years. Further data comes from a recently published project on Egyptian chronology and radiocarbon dating. From this, over 200 new measurements for dynastic Egypt proved the reliability of the historical chronology as outlined by Kenneth Kitchen, although a slightly earlier start for the New Kingdom seems to be possible (the accession date for Ahmose, based on the New Kingdom model published by Christopher Bronk Ramsey and colleagues, falls between 1566 and 1552 for 1σ and 1570 and 1544 for 2σ). Furthermore, the testing of samples of known age from the 19th century AD (short-lived plants) suggests a regional offset for radiocarbon dates of +19 ± 5 radiocarbon years that has to be considered when working with radiocarbon data in Egypt. Still, as most archaeological contexts do not provide a clear link to the historical chronology, contexts have to be dated by material culture in general, usually by pottery. However, as the current understanding of pottery development and dating in Egypt has never been checked scientifically, radiocarbon data for archaeological contexts containing diagnostic pottery are of considerable importance not only for the context being dated, but also for linking material culture to absolute dates. In this paper we present new radiocarbon determinations from two tombs of the cemetery of Sedment (tomb 254 and 246). We selected tombs containing Cypriote pottery, as the date of the first appearance of certain Cypriote wares (e.g. White Slip, Base Ring, Red Lustrous Wheel-Made Ware) often provides key-arguments for dating the context proper, as well as for discussions on absolute chronology and archaeological synchronisms throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. The radiocarbon dating was done at the Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator with generous support from the SCIEM 2000 project. Calibration and modelling was undertaken using the OxCal 4.1 software with resolution = 1 and the INTCAL09 calibration curve.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

The paper presents new radiocarbon dates from two New Kingdom tombs at Sedment (254 and 246), using short-lived basket samples and a +19 ± 5 ¹⁴C-year Nile Valley offset correction. The calibrated results support a Thutmosid date for both tombs and show no discernible mid-18th Dynasty difference between radiocarbon and material-culture dating.

Key findings

  • Sedment 254: two basket samples gave VERA-5475: 3170 ± 30 BP and VERA-5476: 3190 ± 40 BP; the combined calibrated age falls with 3.4% probability between 1488 and 1484 BC, with 64.8% probability between 1453 and 1411 BC, and with 95.4% probability between 1495 and 1398 BC, supporting a date during Thutmose III or shortly thereafter.
  • Sedment 246: two basket-lid samples gave VERA-5569: 3205 ± 35 BP and VERA-5570: 3240 ± 30 BP; the combined calibrated age falls with 68.2% probability between 1497 and 1449 BC and with 95.4% probability between 1517 and 1430 BC, most likely placing the baskets in the Thutmosid Period.
  • Tomb 246 shows at least two phases: an earlier Thutmosid phase represented by the radiocarbon data and a later phase represented by a faience ring bezel naming Horemheb; the RLWM spindle bottle is argued to belong more likely to the earlier Thutmosid phase with the BR I pottery and early 18th Dynasty kohl-pot.
  • Sedment 53 should not be considered a parallel for the leather bag-shaped vessel because of possible later disturbance/robbing or flawed documentation; its Mycenaean jug in LH IIIA2–B conflicts with a late Thutmose III or Amenhotep II date.

Methods

  • Radiocarbon dating was done at the Vienna Environmental Research Accelerator on short-lived plant-fiber basket samples: two from Sedment 254 (Ph.E 15428a-b and 15429a-b) and two basket lids from Sedment 246 (MM 6948a-b).
  • Calibration and modelling used OxCal 4.1 with resolution = 1 and the INTCAL09 calibration curve; samples from each tomb were combined with R_Combine on the assumption that they represent the same date within a few years, and a Delta_R correction of +19 ± 5 ¹⁴C-years was applied for the Nile Valley offset.
  • Archaeological context: both tombs lie in Cemetery A at Sedment; tomb 254 was an undisturbed 18th Dynasty burial with four interments, while tomb 246 was larger, disturbed, had a shaft about 5.50 m deep and two roughly 2 × 2 m chambers, and contained 23 objects.

Limitations

  • Stated: tomb 246 was not undisturbed; no human remains or coffins were recorded, so the number buried cannot be ascertained, and the interments were disturbed with burial goods intermixed, making object-to-burial associations unclear. In tomb 254, sex determination is not absolutely secure because preservation/mummification is unknown, and no epigraphic material was found.
  • Stated: without the actual objects, pottery from outside the coffin in tomb 254 cannot be dated exactly; some Sedment 53 object provenance is doubtful, tomb numbers may have been reused, and documentation for tomb 53 is meager.
  • Evident: only two radiocarbon samples per tomb were combined on the assumption of near-contemporaneity, and the calibrated ranges are broad (e.g., 95.4% 1495–1398 BC for tomb 254 and 1517–1430 BC for tomb 246), limiting precision; the later Horemheb phase in tomb 246 is not directly dated by the reported radiocarbon samples.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1553/aeundl21s15

Cites

13 of 13 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

1 of 14 cited sources checked · 1 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    The two basket samples from Sedment tomb 254 yielded radiocarbon ages of VERA-5475: 3170 ± 30 yr BP and VERA-5476: 3190 ± 40 yr BP.

    “Both samples yielded very similar 14 C-ages (VERA-5475: 3170 ± 30 yr BP; VERA-5476: 3190 ± 40 yr BP).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The two basket samples from Sedment tomb 246 yielded radiocarbon ages of VERA-5569: 3205 ± 35 BP and VERA-5570: 3240 ± 30 BP.

    “VERA-5569 Basket MM 6948a Sedment 246 -26.6 ± 3.3 3205 ± 35 VERA-5570 Basket MM 6948b Sedment 246 -13.1 ± 1.3 3240 ± 30”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingreasoning

    The number of people buried in Sedment tomb 246 cannot be ascertained because no human remains or coffins were recorded.

    “no human remains were recorded and no remains of coffins either.Therefore, the number of people buried in the tomb cannot be ascertained.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingreasoning

    The leather bag-shaped flask with Cypriote BR handle and neck from Sedment tomb 254 has a very close parallel, most likely made by the same craftsman, in tomb Sedment 53.

    “The leather bag shaped flask with Cypriote BR handle and neck has a very close parallel (in fact an almost similar object) that most likely was made by the same craftsman in tomb Sedment 53”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingnone given

    Sedment tomb 246 was not undisturbed.

    “In contrast to tomb 254, tomb 246, located within the northern part of Cemetery A, about 25m north of tomb 254, was not undisturbed.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 4
  • May combine two claims. 14
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1

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

    Study design and conductnone given
    § RADIOCARBON EVIDENCE FOR NEW KINGDOM TOMBS: SEDMENT 254 AND 246

    Calibration and modelling were undertaken using OxCal 4.1 with resolution = 1 and the INTCAL09 calibration curve.

    “Calibration and modelling was undertaken using the OxCal 4.1 software with resolution = 1 and the INTCAL09 calibration curve.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites REIMER et al. 2009 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The faience ring bezel from Sedment tomb 246 bears the name of Horemheb, providing a terminus post quem for at least one interment in the tomb.

    “A faience ring bezel bears the name of Horemheb +sr-xpr.w-Ra-HqA-MaA.t (Fig. 7f), providing a terminus post quem for at least one interment in the tomb.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The combined calibrated age for the two Sedment 246 samples, after correction by +19 ± 5 14C-years, falls with 68.2% probability between 1497 and 1449 BC and with 95.4% probability between 1517 and 1430 BC.

    “The calibrated age for the combined samples (χ 2 -test: df=1 T=0.6 (5% 3.8)) falls with 68.2 % probability between 1497 and 1449 BC and with 95.4 % probability between 1517 and 1430 BC”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    The ring's plaque from Sedment tomb 1810 depicts the king as a sphinx trampling his enemies and mentions the name of Amenhotep II, providing a terminus post quem for this burial.

    “The ring's plaque depicts the king as a sphinx trampling his enemies and mentions the name of Amenhotep II, providing a terminus post quem for this burial.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    All four persons buried in Sedment tomb 254 were certainly buried at the same time, and there is no evidence for any later use of the tomb.

    “all four persons were certainly buried at the same time, and that there is no evidence for any later use”
    • Also stated in: § 2.1. Sedment tomb 254 13 · plain
      “There is also no evidence for any later use of the tomb as a whole”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    The combined calibrated age for the two Sedment 254 samples, after correction by +19 ± 5 14C-years, falls with 3.4% probability between 1488 and 1484 BC, with 64.8% probability between 1453 and 1411 BC, and with 95.4% probability between 1495 and 1398 BC.

    “between 1488 and 1484 BC, and with 64.8 % probability between 1453 and 1411 BC; or with 95.4 % probability between 1495 and 1398 BC (Fig. 4).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Both baskets from Sedment tomb 254 represent the same date within a few years.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The RLWM spindle bottle fragment from Sedment tomb 246 is more likely associated with the BR I pottery and early 18th Dynasty kohl-pot, and therefore with the earlier Thutmosid phase of the tomb, than with the younger phase.

    “it seems far more likely that it should be associated with the BR I pottery and the early 18 th Dynasty kohl-pot and therefore with the earlier (Thutmosid) phase of the tomb.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Premisecitation

    The RLWM spindle bottle fragment from Sedment tomb 246 was Eriksson's latest securely datable example of a spindle bottle in Egypt.

    “the fragment of a RLWM spindle bottle (MM 6949, Fig. 7a), found within the tomb, was Eriksson's latest securely datable example of a spindle bottle in Egypt.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites ERIKSSON 1993

  • May combine two claims.

    Premiseown data
    § RADIOCARBON EVIDENCE FOR NEW KINGDOM TOMBS: SEDMENT 254 AND 246

    The regional offset for radiocarbon dates in Egypt is +19 ± 5 radiocarbon years, which has to be considered when working with radiocarbon data in Egypt.

    “the testing of samples of known age from the 19 th century AD (short-lived plants) suggests a regional offset for radiocarbon dates of +19 ± 5 radiocarbon years that has to be considered when working with radiocarbon data in Egypt.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites DEE et al. 2010 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Based on the New Kingdom model published by Christopher Bronk Ramsey and colleagues, the start of Thutmose III's reign can be dated between 1494 and 1483 BC, and the beginning of the reign of Amenhotep II between 1441 and 1431 BC.

    “Based on the New Kingdom chronological model published by Christopher Bronk Ramsey and colleagues, the start of Thutmose III's reign can be dated between 1494 and 1483 BC while the beginning of the reign of Amenhotep II can be dated between 1441 and 1431 BC.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites BRONK RAMSEY et al. 2010 source

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

    Premisecitation

    There is now evidence for spindle bottles in a Canaanite fabric from Amarna.

    “Also there is now evidence for spindle bottles in a Canaanite fabric from Amarna”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites ROSE 2007

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

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § RADIOCARBON EVIDENCE FOR NEW KINGDOM TOMBS: SEDMENT 254 AND 246

    Over 200 new measurements for dynastic Egypt proved the reliability of the historical chronology as outlined by Kenneth Kitchen, although a slightly earlier start for the New Kingdom seems possible.

    “over 200 new measurements for dynastic Egypt proved the reliability of the historical chronology as outlined by Kenneth Kitchen,5 although a slightly earlier start for the New Kingdom seems to be possible”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites BRONK RAMSEY et al. 2010 source
    • cites KITCHEN 2000

      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.

    Premisecitation

    Most RLWM spindle bottles are known from pre-Amarna contexts, with the reign of Thutmose III being the floruit of this class of pottery.

    “most RLWM spindle bottles are known from pre-Amarna contexts, the reign of Thutmose III being the floruit of this special class of pottery.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites ERIKSSON 1993

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The scientific date for Sedment tomb 254 agrees well with the archaeological estimation and shows that at least in the mid-18th Dynasty there is no discernable difference between radiocarbon data and dating based on material culture in Egypt.

    “The scientific date agrees well with the archaeological estimation and shows that at least in the mid-18 th Dynasty there is no discernable difference between radiocarbon data and dating based on material culture in Egypt.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The preceding LH IIIA1-phase continued at least until the beginning of the reign of Amenhotep III, as shown by a scarab mentioning Nb-mAat-Ra found in Sellopoulo tomb 3 near Knossos together with LH IIIA1 and LM IIIA1 pottery.

    “since the preceding LH IIIA1-phase continued at least until the beginning of the reign of Amenhotep III, as can be shown by a scarab mentioning the king's name Nb-mAat-Ra that was found in Sellopoulo tomb 3 near Knossos together with LH IIIA1 and LM IIIA1 pottery.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites POPHAM, CATLING & CATLING 1974 source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    This paper has shown the possibilities of radiocarbon dating short-lived samples from clear contexts and its applicability for archaeology in Egypt.

    “In this paper we have shown the possibilities of radiocarbon dating short-lived samples from clear contexts and its applicability for archaeology in Egypt.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The current understanding of pottery development and dating in Egypt has never been checked scientifically.
16 of 16

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Both baskets from Sedment tomb 254 represent the same date within a few years.

    “As it can be assumed that both baskets represent the same date (within a few years)”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The current understanding of pottery development and dating in Egypt has never been checked scientifically.

    “as the current understanding of pottery development and dating in Egypt has never been checked scientifically”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    There are at least two different interments in Sedment tomb 246 because there are two chambers.

    “as there are two chambers, it seems reasonable to expect at least two different interments.”
3 of 3

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Figure 9 assigns both samples to one basket lid

    Minor

    The caption attributes both combined samples to MM 6948a, whereas the radiocarbon data assign VERA-5570 to MM 6948b.

  • Kohl-pot has conflicting museum numbers

    Minor

    The tomb description identifies the kohl-pot as Ph E.17680 a-b, while the object list identifies it as PhE 17860a-b.

  • Figure 4 assigns both samples to one basket

    Minor

    The caption says both combined samples came from basket PhE 15428, but the radiocarbon data list VERA-5476 as coming from PhE 15429a.

3 of 3

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 9

  1. 9 BR I juglet type IAa (iii) PhE 15421 MERRILLEES 1974, 34, 42, fig. 24
  2. BR I juglet type IBa (ii) PhE 15422 MERRILLEES 1974, 34, 42, fig. 21
  3. BR I juglet type IBa (ii) PhE 15423 MERRILLEES 1974, 34, 42, fig. 21
  4. BR I juglet type IBa (v) PhE 15424 MERRILLEES 1974, 36, 42, fig. 24 Radiocarbon Evidence for New Kingdom Tombs: Sedment 254 and 246 Type of object Museum Number Publication 13 BR I juglet type IBa (iii) PhE 15425 MERRILLEES 1974, 34, 42, fig. 22 14 Flask in the shape of a leather bag PhE 15426 PETRIE & BRUNTON 1924, pl. 55 no. 12, pl. 57 no. 33 15 Basket with lid PhE 15427a-b MERRILLEES 1974, 42 16 Basket with lid PhE 15428a-b MERRILLEES 1974, 16, 42, fig. 4 17 Basket with lid PhE 15429a-b MERRILLEES 1974, 16, fig. 5
  5. BIETAK, M. (ed.) 2000 The Synchronisation of Civilisations in the Eastern Mediterranean in the Second Millennium B.C. Pro- ceedings of an International Symposium at Schloß Haindorf, 15 th -17 th of November 1996 and at the Austrian Academy, Vienna, 11 th -12 th of May 1998, CChEM 1, Wien.
  6. BIETAK, M. & HÖFLMAYER, F. 2007 Introduction: High and Low Chronology, 13-23, in: BIETAK & CZERNY (eds.) 2007.
  7. KITCHEN, K.A. 2000 The Historical Chronology of Ancient Egypt, a Cur- rent Assessment, 39-52, in: BIETAK (ed.) 2000.
  8. Henning Franzmeier, Felix Höflmayer, Walter Kutschera, Eva M. Wild EM Cairo, Egyptian Museum MM Manchester Museum OA Oxford, Ashmolean Museum Ph Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology 1999 Regional Mycenaean Decorated Pottery, Rahden.
  9. WARBURTON, D.A. (ed.) 2009 Time's up! Dating the Minoan Eruption of Santorini. Acts of the Minoan Eruption Chronology Workshop, Sandbjerg, November 2007, Monographs of the Danish Institute at Athens 10, Aarhus.

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Related

Authors
Franzmeier, H., Höflmayer, F., Kutschera, W., & Wild, E. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Vienna (AT)
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
ORCID
Venue
Ägypten und Levante
Publisher
Osterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften
Published
2013
Volume
21
Pages
15-30
ISSN
  • 1015-5104 (ISSN-L)
  • 1813-5145
DOI
10.1553/aeundl21s15
OpenAlex
W1574312931
Semantic Scholar
164a5d2d23326f214efbf93dd6079f206388c608
Cited by
3
References
12
Citations by year
2024: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2014: 1
FWCI
0.23
Type
journal article
Language
de
Open access
Locations
  • Ägypten und Levante (publishedVersion)
  • Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
  • Universität Wien
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient Egypt and Archaeology
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
Keywords
New Kingdom Egypt, tombs, Cypriot pottery, radiocarbon chronology, Egyptian chronology, Eastern Nile Delta, pottery dating, Eastern Mediterranean

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