The iron age chronology debate: Is the gap narrowing?

Israel Finkelstein*, Eli Piasetzky

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

83 Scopus citations

Abstract

Radiocarbon investigations in recent years show beyond doubt that the Iron IIA lasted until approximately 800 B.C.E. The early-to-late Iron IIA transition should be placed in the first half of the ninth century. For the beginning of the Iron IIA (the Iron I/II transition), the differences between the debating camps have now narrowed to a few decades-a gap that is beyond the resolution of radiocarbon results, even when a large number of determinations are deployed. Introducing historical considerations as well as observations related to the pace of change of pottery traditions, the Iron I/II transition could have taken a decade or two and should be put shortly after the midtenth century B.C.E.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)50-54
Number of pages5
JournalNear Eastern Archaeology
Volume74
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2011

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