Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T14:36:30.005Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Radiocarbon Dating in Near-Eastern Contexts: Confusion and Quality Control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Johannes van der Plicht  and
Hendrik J Bruins
Johannes van der Plicht
Affiliation:
University of Groningen, Centre for Isotope Research, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands. Email: plicht@phys.rug.nl.
Hendrik J Bruins
Affiliation:
Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Sede Boker Campus 84990, Israel. Email: hjbruins@bgumail.bgu.ac.il.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Near-Eastern archaeology has long remained oblivious to radiocarbon dating as unique historical calendars brought about a perception that 14C dating is superfluous. Circular chronological reasoning may occur as a result. There is now strong 14C evidence that the early part of Egyptian history seems older than age assessments currently in vogue among scholars. It is vital to apply systematic and high-quality 14C dating to each and every excavation in the Near East to measure time with the same yardstick. Such a strategy will enable chronological comparison of different areas at an excavation site and also between sites and regions, independent of cultural deliberations. This is essential for proper interpretation of archaeological layers and association with data from other fields. Radiocarbon (14C) is the most common radiometric dating tool applied in archaeology, geosciences, and environmental research. Stringent quality control is required to build up a reliable 14C chronology for the historical periods in Near-Eastern contexts. Important aspects of quality control involve regular laboratory intercomparisons, transparent duplicate and triplicate analysis of selected samples, conventional versus accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) (i.e. sample size), sample selection and association. Finally, bones may provide short-lived dates in important stratigraphic archaeological contexts.

Type
Near East Chronology: Archaeology and Environment
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 43 , Issue 3: Proceedings of the 17th International Radiocarbon Conference (Part 3 of 3) , 2001 , pp. 1155 - 1166
Copyright
Copyright © 2001 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

Aitken, MJ. 1990. Science-based dating in archaeology. London and New York: Longman.Google Scholar
Balter, M. 2000. The Two Tels: Armageddon for biblical Archaeology? Science 287:31–2.Google Scholar
Berger, R. 1983. Willard Frank Libby, 1908–1980. PACT 8:13–16.Google Scholar
Bietak, M. 1991. Egypt and Canaan during the Middle Bronze Age. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 281:27–72.Google Scholar
Bonani, G, Haas, H, Hawass, Z, Lehner, M, Nakhla, S, Nolan, J, Wenke, R, Wölfli, W. 2001. Radiocarbon Dates of Old and Middle Kingdom Monuments in Egypt. Radiocarbon 43(3). This issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bowman, SGE, Ambers, JC, Leese, MN. 1990. Re-evaluation of British Museum radiocarbon dates issued between 1980 and 1984. Radiocarbon 32(1):59–79.Google Scholar
Braun, E. 2001. Proto and Early Dynastic Egypt and Early Bronze I–II of the Southern Levant: some uneasy 14C correlations. Radiocarbon 43(3). This issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1995. Radiocarbon calibration and analysis of stratigraphy: the OxCal program. Radiocarbon 37(1): 425–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1998. Probability and dating. Radiocarbon 40(1):461–74.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2000. OxCal Program version 3.5. Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, University of Oxford. http://www.rlaha.ox.ac.uk/oxcal.Google Scholar
Bruins, HJ, Mook, WG. 1989. The need for a calibrated radiocarbon chronology of Near Eastern archaeology. Radiocarbon 31(3):1019–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruins, HJ, van der Plicht, J. 1995. Tell Es-Sultan (Jericho): Radiocarbon results of short-lived cereal and multiyear charcoal samples from the end of the Middle Bronze Age. Radiocarbon 37(1):213–20.Google Scholar
Bruins, HJ, van der Plicht, J. 1996. The Exodus enigma. Nature 382:213–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bruins, HJ, van der Plicht, J. 1998. Early Bronze Jericho: High precision 14C dates of short-lived palaeobotanic remains. Radiocarbon 40(2):621–28.Google Scholar
Bruins, HJ, van der Plicht, J. 2001. Radiocarbon challenges archaeo-historical time frameworks in the Near East: the Early Bronze Age of Jericho in relation to Egypt. Radiocarbon 43(3). This issue.Google Scholar
Bryant, C, Carmi, I, Cook, G, Gulliksen, S, Harkness, D, Heinemeijer, J, McGee, E, Naysmith, P, Possnert, G, Scott, M, van der Plicht, J, van Strydonck, M. 2000. Sample requirements and design of a inter-laboratory trial for radiocarbon laboratories. AMS-8 conference, Vienna, 6–10 September 1999. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 172:355–58.Google Scholar
Bryant, C, Carmi, I, Cook, G, Gulliksen, S, Harkness, D, Heinemeijer, J, McGee, E, Naysmith, P, Possnert, G, Scott, M, van der Plicht, J, van Strydonck, M. 2001. Is comparability of 14C dates an issue? Radiocarbon 43(2).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burleigh, R. 1981. Radiocarbon dates. In: Kenyon, KM, Holland, TA, editors. Excavations at Jericho. Volume 3. The Architecture and Stratigraphy of the Tell. Appendix C. London: The British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem. 501–4.Google Scholar
Dever, WG. 1992. The chronology of Syria-Palestine in the second millennium BCE: A review of current issues. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 288:1–25.Google Scholar
Elmore, D, Phillips, FM. 1987. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry for measurement of long-lived radioisotopes. Science 236: 543–50.Google Scholar
Geyh, MA, Schleicher, H. 1990. Absolute age determination. Physical and chemical dating methods and their application. (English by RC Newcomb). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.Google Scholar
Gulliksen, S, Scott, EM. 1995. TIRI report. Radiocarbon 37(2):820–21.Google Scholar
Haas, H, Devine, J, Wenke, R, Lehner, M, Woelfli, W, Bonani, G. 1987. Radiocarbon chronology and the historical calendar in Egypt. In: Aurenche, O, Evin, J, Hours, F, editors. Chronologies in the Near East. Oxford: BAR International Series 379: 585–606.Google Scholar
Hassan, FA, Robinson, SW. 1987. High-precision radiocarbon chronometry of ancient Egypt and comparisons with Nubia, Palestine and Mesopotamia. Antiquity 61:119–35.Google Scholar
Hedges, REM, Gowlett, JAJ. 1986. Radiocarbon dating by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry. Scientific American 254:100–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenyon, KM. 1960. Archaeology in the Holy Land. London: Ernest Benn, Ltd. 326 p.Google Scholar
Kenyon, KM. 1981. Holland, TA, editor. Excavations at Jericho. Volume 3. The Architecture and Stratigraphy of the Tell. London: The British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem.Google Scholar
Kenyon, KM, Holland, TA. 1983. Excavations at Jericho. Volume 5. The Pottery Phases of the Tell and Other Finds. London: The British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem.Google Scholar
Kromer, B, Münnich, KO. 1992. CO2 gas proportional counting in radiocarbon dating—review and perspective. In: Taylor, RE, Long, A, Kra, RS, editors. Radiocarbon after four decades. An interdisciplinary perspective. New York: Springer Verlag. p 184–97.Google Scholar
Kromer, B, Ambers, J, Baillie, MGL, Damon, PE, Hesshaimer, V, Hofmann, J, Jöris, O, Levin, I, Manning, SW, McCormac, FG, van der Plicht, J, Spurk, M, Stuiver, M, Weninger, B. 1996. Report: Summary of the workshop “Aspects of high-precision radiocarbon calibration.” Radiocarbon 38(3):607–10.Google Scholar
Kuniholm, PI. 1998. Aegean Dendrochronology Project, progress report, http://www.arts.cornell.edu/dendro.Google Scholar
Kuniholm, PI, Kromer, B, Manning, SW, Newton, M, Latini, CE, Bruce, MJ. 1996. Anatolian tree rings and the absolute chronology of the Eastern Mediterranean 2220–718 BC. Nature 381:780–83.Google Scholar
Lanting, JN, van der Plicht, J. 1994. 14C-AMS: pros and cons for archaeology. Palaeohistoria 35/36:1–12.Google Scholar
Lanting, JN, Aerts, AT, van der Plicht, J. 2001. Dating of cremated bones. Radiocarbon 43(2).Google Scholar
Le Clercq, M, van der Plicht, J, Gröning, M. 1998. New 14C reference materials with activities of 15 and 50 pMC. Radiocarbon 40(1):295–7.Google Scholar
Libby, WF. 1952 (re-issued in 1965). Radiocarbon dating. Chicago: Chicago University Press.Google Scholar
Libby, WF. 1981. Tritium and radiocarbon. Berger, R, Libby, LM, editors. Santa Monica: Geo Science Analytical. (Collected Papers, Libby WF, volume 1).Google Scholar
Manning, SW. 1995. The absolute chronology of the Aegean Early Bronze Age: archaeology, history and radiocarbon. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press.Google Scholar
Manning, SW. 1999. A test of time: the volcano of Thera and the chronology and history of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean in the mid second millennium BC. Oxford: Oxbow Books.Google Scholar
Manning, SW, Weninger, B. 1992. A light in the dark: archaeological wiggle matching and the absolute chronology of the close of the Aegean Late Bronze Age. Antiquity 66:636–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mook, WG. 1986. Business meeting, 12th International Radiocarbon Conference. Radiocarbon 28(2A):799.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mook, WG, Streurman, HJ. 1983. Physical and chemical aspects of radiocarbon dating. In: Mook, WG, Waterbolk, HT, editors. Proceedings, Groningen Symposium 14C and Archaeology. PACT 8:31–55.Google Scholar
Mook, WG, van der Plicht, J. 1999. Reporting 14C activities and concentrations. Radiocarbon 41(3):227–39.Google Scholar
Mook, WG, Waterbolk, HT. 1985. Handbook for archaeologists, no. 3. radiocarbon dating. Strasbourg: European Science Foundation.Google Scholar
Olsson, IU. 1983. Dating non-terrestrial materials. PACT 8:277–94.Google Scholar
Pearson, GW. 1986. Precise calendrical dating of known growth-period samples using a ‘curve fitting’ technique. Radiocarbon 28(2A):292–9.Google Scholar
Rozanski, K, Stichler, W, Gonfiantini, R, Scott, EM, Beukens, RP, Kromer, B, van der Plicht, J. 1992. The IAEA 14C intercomparison exercise. Radiocarbon 34(3): 506–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Savage, SH. 2001. Toward an AMS radiocarbon chronology of Predynastic Egyptian ceramics. Radiocarbon 43(3). This issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scott, EM, Aitchison, TC, Harkness, DD, Cook, GT, Baxter, MS. 1990. An overview of all three stages of the international radiocarbon intercomparison. Radiocarbon 32(3):309–19.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Kra, RS, editors. 1986. Calibration Issue. Radiocarbon 28(2B).Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Reimer, PJ, Braziunas, TF. 1998. High-precision radiocarbon age calibration for terrestrial and marine samples. Radiocarbon 40(3): 1127–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M, van der Plicht, J, editors. 1998. INTCAL98, Calibration Issue, Radiocarbon 40(3).Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Reimer, PJ. 1993. Extended 14C database and revised CALIB 3.0 14C age calibration program. Radiocarbon 35(1):215–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M, Reimer, PJ, Bard, E, Beck, JW, Burr, GS, Hughen, KA, Kromer, B, McCormac, G, van der Plicht, J, Spurk, M. 1998. INTCAL98 radiocarbon age calibration 24,000–0 cal BP Radiocarbon 40(3): 1041–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Taylor, RE, Aitken, MJ, editors. 1997. Chronometric dating in archaeology. Advances in archaeological and museum science. Vol. 2. New York: Plenum Press.Google Scholar
Taylor, RE, Long, A, Kra, RS, editors. 1992. Radiocarbon after four decades. An interdisciplinary perspective. New York: Springer Verlag.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Theodórsson, P. 1996. Measurement of weak radioactivity. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co. Ltd.Google Scholar
Tuniz, C, Bird, JR, Fink, D, Herzog, GF 1998. Accelerator mass spectrometry. Washington D.C.: CRC Press.Google Scholar
van der Plicht, J. 1993. The Groningen Radiocarbon Calibration Program. Radiocarbon Calibration issue. Radiocarbon 35(1):231–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Strydonck, M, Nelson, DE, Crombé, P, Bronk Ramsey, C, Scott, EM, van der Plicht, J, Hedges, REM. 2000. What's in a 14C date. Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on 14C and Archaeology. Lyon, France. 6–10 April 1998. p 433–40.Google Scholar
Waterbolk, HT. 1990. Quality differences between radiocarbon laboratories illustrated on material from SW Asia and Egypt. In: Mook, WG, Waterbolk, HT, editors. Proceedings of the Second International Symposium, 14C and Archaeology, Groningen 1987. PACT 29:141–58.Google Scholar
Waterbolk, HT. 1994. Radiocarbon dating Levantine prehistory. In: Bar-Yosef, O, Kra, RS, editors. Late Quaternary chronology and paleoclimates of the Eastern Mediterranean. Tucson: Radiocarbon.Google Scholar
Weinstein, JM. 1984. Radiocarbon dating in the Southern Levant. Radiocarbon 26(3):297–366.Google Scholar
Weinstein, JM. 1992. The chronology of Palestine in the early second millennium BCE. Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 288:27–46.Google Scholar
Weninger, B. 1992. Fallstudien zur 14C chronologie in Bulgarien, Sofia. Studia Praehistoria 11–12:407–25.Google Scholar
Weninger, B. 1995. Stratified 14C dates and ceramic chronologies: case studies for the Early Bronze Age at Troy (Turkey) and Ezero (Bulgaria). Radiocarbon 37(2):443–56.Google Scholar