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July 26, 2008
New Data for the Iron Age Chronology Debate
Aren Maeir writes on the Tell es-Safi/Gath Excavations Official (and Unofficial) Weblog,
In Area A, we had a VERY important find. In the sub-area being excavated by Louise Hitchcock and her team, we may have uncovered what may be the MOST IMPORTANT FIND OF THE SEASON!!! Right under the well-preserved and well-dated late 9th century BCE destruction level, Louise and her team uncovered a small portion of an earlier Iron Age IIA level (which we had already partially uncovered in previous seasons). This level, which is about 30-40 cm below the 9th century level, and is above earlier levels containing late Iron Age I pottery, contained a nice selection of early Iron Age IIA pottery (red slipped, hand burnished). What was particularly important that in this level we found a round, Philistine hearth, along with several well defined clusters of grape pips. In addition, we found a clay sealing with an impression that is dated by Stefan Muenger (in an article in the journal “Tel Aviv” 2003) to the mid 10th century BCE. To make things short, the finds from this level, along with potential 14C dates that we should get from it, may provide solid data for dating an earlier phase in the Iron Age IIA!! As is well-known, the fierce debate that has been going on about the chronology of the Iron Age and of the 10th/9th century in particular, in fact started regarding the chronology of Iron Age Philistia. This new find may provide some secure and well-controlled data for this debate!! As soon as we have the 14C dates from this level, this will be of much importance!!! As of now, one cannot say whether it will support the “conventional” (e.g., Mazar) or the “lower” (e.g. Finkelstein) chronology - we will have to wait!!
Abnormally Interesting stuff! I've been sitting on a series for over a year while this debate gets resolved. Somehow, I doubt that these new finds will resolve the issue.
Jim West also noticed this. As he says, "Read the entire post. And let the fun begin."
Posted by Duane Smith at July 26, 2008 2:23 PM | Read more on Archaeology |
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