The Absolute Chronology of the Bronze Age in Cyprus: A Revision

Merrillees, Robert Stuart

doi:10.2307/1357230

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Too, some archaeologists have said that if they attempt to publish 14 C dates contradicting archaeo-historical chronologies, their papers are rejected (Nelson et al 1990). One archaeologist, reviewing the situation for the eastern Mediterranean, concluded blandly: "… radiocarbon dates are invoked if they support a particular hypothesis … and dismissed if they do not" (Merrillees 1992). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Early-Historical Radiocarbon Dates Downwind from the Mediterranean are Too Early

Keenan¹

2002

Radiocarbon

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ABSTRACT. Several authors have claimed that radiocarbon dates in the Ancient Near East are too early. Herein, a hypothesis that might explain this is presented. Marine degassing of "old" carbon (i.e. 14 C-deficient C), induced by upwelling of old subsurface water, has been observed, in modern times, to cause century-scale 14 C ages in the surface atmosphere. A review of the Mediterranean Sea post-ice-age circulation concludes that the subsurface waters became very old, primarily due to millennialong stagnation. It is hypothesized that as the stagnation ended, subsurface waters were brought towards the surface, where they degassed old carbon. Additionally, Anatolian dendrochronology is shown to not contradict the hypothesis.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Early-Historical Radiocarbon Dates Downwind from the Mediterranean are Too Early

Keenan¹

2002

Radiocarbon

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“…In this paper, we employ the relative dating of the Late Cypriote (LC) period according to the basic tripartite system (LC I, LC II, and LC III) developed by Gjerstad (1926: 262-289), which was further refined and linked to absolute dating by, for example, the Swedish Cyprus Expedition (SCE IV: ID) and Merrillees (1977Merrillees ( , 1992 based on comparisons with chronologies from Egypt, the Near East, and the Aegean. Additional radiocarbon dating is provided by Manning et al (2001) and adapted by Hadjisavvas (2007), and our dating is based on these studies.…”

Section: Archaeological Contexts and Pottery Samples Pottery Sherds Omentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additional radiocarbon dating is provided by Manning et al (2001) and adapted by Hadjisavvas (2007), and our dating is based on these studies. The approximate dates for the LC period are as follows: LC IA c. 1650-1550, LC IB c. 1550-1450, LC IIA c. 1450-1375, LC IIB c. 1375-1340/1315, LC IIC c. 1340/1315-1200, LC IIIA c. 1200-1125(Merrillees, 1992Manning et al, 2001;Hadjisavvas, 2007).…”

Section: Archaeological Contexts and Pottery Samples Pottery Sherds Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Lead Isotopes to Determine Pottery Provenance in Cyprus: Clay Source Signatures and Comparison with Late Bronze Age Cypriote Pottery

et al. 2013

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This paper presents the lead isotopic composition of potential clay sources for pottery production, collected in the four major geological zones of Cyprus (Troodos Ophiolite, Circum Troodos Sedimentary Succession, Mamonia Terrane, Kyrenia Terrane) and evaluates its usefulness in Cypriote pottery provenance studies. The clay isotopic signatures from the four zones are compared to each other and to the isotopic composition of various utilitarian pottery wares from three Late Bronze Age sites, respectively located in southern Cyprus (Alassa‐Pano Mandilaris), east Cyprus (Enkomi), and southeast Cyprus (Hala Sultan Tekke). It also explores the potential of this method to better discriminate between potential raw materials used for the production of Base‐ring ware, one of the most characteristic fine pottery of Late Bronze Age Cyprus, which was widely spread in the Eastern Mediterranean (Courtois, 1981; Vaughan, 1991, 1994). Results show that three main lead isotopic fields can be distinguished among the Cypriote clay sources and the comparison of Plain sherds with the clay sources allows discrimination between local products and imports. They also clearly indicate that all the Base‐ring sherds analyzed in this study were made of the clays from the Kathikas Formation that crops out in only limited parts of southwest Cyprus.

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“…Furthermore, there is a dearth of secure artefact linkages between pre-Middle Bronze Age (MBA) Cyprus and the rest of the eastern Mediterranean, as well as a marked regionalism of local prehistoric ceramic traditions which have resulted in serious conflicts of interpretation (for reviews, see Schaeffer 1948, 328-49;Dikaios 1962, 192-203;Stewart 1962, 282-5;Hennessy 1973;Mellaart 1974;Merrillees 1977;1978;Gjerstad 1980;Herscher 1980;1981;Swiny 1985b, 120-1; 1986a, 30-2; Knapp 1990, 148-9, 152-5; Peltenburg 1991a; 1991b, 31-3; Coleman 1992,282-6). However, in recent years, it has been the absence of independent radiocarbon dating for the EBA period which has been the major stumbling block, in noted contrast to the significant corpus of early Holocene to Chalcolithic determinations now available (see e.g.…”

Section: Journal Of Archaeology 13(2) 1994mentioning

confidence: 99%

SOTIRA KAMINOUDHIA AND THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE EARLY BRONZE AGE IN CYPRUS

Manning

Swiny

1994

Oxford J Archaeology

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Summary. The Early Bronze Age (EBA) of Cyprus is a key phase of transformation in the prehistory of the island. Major developments are observed in the economic, social and artistic arenas, but owing to the lack of excavated settlements no firm chronology has ever existed for this period. Excavations in southern Cyprus at Sotira Kaminoudhia, a site with an assemblage belonging in broad terms to the Early Cypriot (EBA) Red Polished ceramic tradition, have helped to fill the lacuna. This paper presents the analyses of a series of radiocarbon determinations from well stratified organic samples in the settlement. These both confirm the EBA status of the site and provide the first firm absolute chronology for the Cypriot EBA. In addition, the new data from Sotira Kaminoudhia provide an opportunity to examine the beginning of this period on Cyprus — specifically the much debated issue of the so‐called Philia Phase — both in chronological and socio‐economic terms.

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The Absolute Chronology of the Bronze Age in Cyprus: A Revision

Cited by 17 publications

References 4 publications

Why Early-Historical Radiocarbon Dates Downwind from the Mediterranean are Too Early

Why Early-Historical Radiocarbon Dates Downwind from the Mediterranean are Too Early

Using Lead Isotopes to Determine Pottery Provenance in Cyprus: Clay Source Signatures and Comparison with Late Bronze Age Cypriote Pottery

SOTIRA KAMINOUDHIA AND THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE EARLY BRONZE AGE IN CYPRUS

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