Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Rejoinder

Fantalkin, Alexander; Finkelstein, Israel; Piasetzky, E.

doi:10.1017/s0033822200034469

Cited by 33 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(48 reference statements)

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“…In our view, the approach by Fantalkin et al (2011) to erase any charcoal date is not justified in scientific terms. Short-lived seeds are generally preferable, but not always available in sufficient amounts, as was the case for Tel Dan.…”

Section: H J Bruins Et Almentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This sample was collected together with the chief excavator, Rudolph Cohen, who considered this lowest black layer in Square K/6-7 a destruction layer synchronous with the Oval Fortress, according to Bruins' field notes. Fantalkin et al (2011) designate this sample "long lived," which is by no means certain. That is their conjecture.…”

Section: Tell El-qudeiratmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our reply follows more or less the outline of the rejoinder by Fantalkin et al (2011). Thus, we begin with the Levant, discussing in detail Tel Dan, including Megiddo Stratum VIA (K/4), which is related by all authorities to Dan Stratum V. Many new data are presented from the rural site of Horvat Haluqim, situated in the central Negev Desert, also evaluating the issue of runoff farming in the Iron Age.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Reply

2011

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ABSTRACT. This article is a reply to the preceding rejoinder by Fantalkin et al., which they wrote in response to our article concerning radiocarbon dates of Iron Age sites in the Mediterranean region measured at Groningen (van der Plicht et al. 2009). We do not agree with much of their criticism. Our reply is presented in detail with new viewpoints and evaluations concerning a number of sites in the Levant, including Tel Dan, Megiddo Stratum VIA (= K/4), Horvat Haluqim, Tell el-Qudeirat, Khirbet en-Nahas, Tel Rehov, as well as sites in the central and western Mediterranean region, particularly Carthage and Huelva. Our main conclusions are that 14 C dating supports an Iron Age High Chronology for the above sites, though more 14 C dating is required, particularly in Greece and the central and western Mediterranean region, to substantiate and refine the current state of knowledge. We prefer detailed investigations per individual site, evaluating both 14 C dates and site stratigraphy, rather than the wholesale averaging of strata over many sites, which may lead to oversimplification and erroneous results, also on stratigraphic grounds. Contrary to Fantalkin et al. (2011), we emphasize the importance of 14 C dating as an independent methodology-chronostratigraphy-to evaluate site stratigraphy. The 14 C dates of Megiddo Stratum VIA (=K/4) clearly indicate field-stratigraphic problems at this site.

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Section: H J Bruins Et Almentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Tell El-qudeiratmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Reply

2011

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“…Several sets of radiocarbon dates from many sites located in the southern Levant support the 2 different views on the Bronze Age/Iron Age transition (Mazar and Carmi 2001 ;Carmi and Ussishkin 2004;Finkelstein and Piasetzky 2007;Sharon et al 2007;van der Plicht et al 2009). However, the numerous wiggles in the calibration curve for this period, problematic stratigraphie correlations, poor attention to sampling methodology and context characterization, and the choice of long-lived samples (such as wood charcoal) limited the precision and accuracy of the measurements, thus hampering the definition of a clear-cut transition (see, for instance, the debate on the stratigraphy of Tel Dan in van der Plicht et al 2009;Bruins et al 2011 ;Fantalkin et al 2011 ; see also, for more general considerations, van der Plicht and Bruins 2001 ;Boaretto 2009). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterization of Contexts for Radiocarbon Dating: Results from the Early Iron Age at Tell Es-Safi/Gath, Israel

2012

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ABSTRACT. The reliability of a radiocarbon date depends in part on the degree of precision and accuracy of the measurement. While analytical precision and accuracy can be improved by careful sample cleaning procedures and high laboratory standards, accuracy also depends upon the certainty to which the sample can be attributed to a specific material culture or event in the past. This might be questionable when based only on partial archaeological information. As a consequence, it is very difficult to date clear-cut chronological transitions within specific periods. This issue is particularly apparent in the case of Mediterranean Iron Age chronology, where 2 somewhat different perspectives are proposed, the "High Chronology" and the "Low Chronology," which differ by ~50 yr. Here, we present the preliminary results of an ongoing project that aims to characterize Iron Age archaeological contexts from the eastern Mediterranean, and to identify those contexts that are suitable for dating, in order to improve the accuracy of 14 C dates. This study involves the analysis of sediments by means of FTIR spectrometry, soil micromorphology, phytolith and phosphate extraction, all of which provide insights into the site-formation and postdepositional processes at the different sites under investigation. These techniques, applied at Tell es-Safi/Gath (Israel), enabled us to better identify a secure context for dating.

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“…The dating results measured in Groningen from various Iron Age sites in the Levant, Italy, north Africa, and Spain support a High Chronology for the Iron Age across the entire region ). These results were criticized in a rejoinder by Fantalkin et al (2011), followed by a detailed response (Bruins et al 2011) that adds more facets in favor of the High Chronology.…”

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confidence: 99%

Desert Habitation History by¹⁴C Dating of Soil Layers in Rural Building Structures (Negev, Israel): Preliminary Results from Horvat Haluqim

2012

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ABSTRACT. Traditional archaeological approaches in the central Negev Desert used to employ excavation techniques in post-prehistoric periods in which stratigraphy is based on architecture, while material culture forms the basis for dating assessment and chronology. Such an approach was understandable, as it focused on the most visible remains of past human habitation. However, the detailed habitation record is in the soil rather than in the walls. Moreover, ceramics and stone tools in desert cultures often have limited time resolution in terms of absolute chronology. The rural desert site of Horvat Haluqim in the central Negev yielded 2 habitation periods with the traditional methodology: (1) Roman period, 2nd-3rd centuries CE; (2) Iron Age IIA, 10th century BCE. We have conducted at Horvat Haluqim initial excavations in small building remains that were never excavated before. Our excavation methodology focuses on detailed examination of the archaeological soil in building structures, coupled with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating for chronology, and micromorphology of undisturbed soil samples to study stratigraphy and soil contents at the microscopic scale. Here, we report preliminary results, concentrating on the 14 C dates. These suggest a much longer habitation history at the site during the Iron Age. The 14 C dates obtained so far from these building remains cover Iron Age I, II, III, and the Persian period. The oldest calibrated date (charred C 4 plants) in a rectangular building structure (LI00) is 1129-971 BCE (60.5%, highest relative probability). The youngest calibrated date in a round building structure (L700) is 540-411 BCE (57.9%, highest relative probability). This excavation methodology provides additional "eyes" to look at past human habitation in the Negev Desert, seeing more periods and more detail than was possible with traditional schemes and ceramic dating.

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Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Rejoinder

Cited by 33 publications

References 42 publications

Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Reply

Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Reply

Characterization of Contexts for Radiocarbon Dating: Results from the Early Iron Age at Tell Es-Safi/Gath, Israel

Desert Habitation History by¹⁴C Dating of Soil Layers in Rural Building Structures (Negev, Israel): Preliminary Results from Horvat Haluqim

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Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Rejoinder

Cited by 33 publications

References 42 publications

Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Reply

Iron Age Mediterranean Chronology: A Reply

Characterization of Contexts for Radiocarbon Dating: Results from the Early Iron Age at Tell Es-Safi/Gath, Israel

Desert Habitation History by14C Dating of Soil Layers in Rural Building Structures (Negev, Israel): Preliminary Results from Horvat Haluqim

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Desert Habitation History by¹⁴C Dating of Soil Layers in Rural Building Structures (Negev, Israel): Preliminary Results from Horvat Haluqim