Radiocarbon chronology of Iron Age Jerusalem reveals calibration offsets and architectural developments

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321024121
• Publication Date: 2024-04-29T19:17:06Z
• Authors: Johanna Regev; Yuval Gadot; Joe Uziel; Ortal Chalaf; Yiftah Shalev; Helena Roth; Nitsan Shalom; Nahshon Szanton; Efrat Bocher; Charlotte L. Pearson; David M. Brown; Eugenia Mintz; Lior Regev; Elisabetta Boaretto
• Keywords: Chronology; Archaeomagnetic dating

Reconstructing the absolute chronology of Jerusalem during time it served as Judahite Kingdom’s capital is challenging due to its dense, still inhabited urban nature and plateau shape radiocarbon calibration curve part this period. We present 103 dates from reliable archaeological contexts in five excavation areas Iron Age Jerusalem, which tie between archaeology biblical history. exploit Jerusalem’s rich past, including textual evidence vast remains, overcome difficult problems dating, establishing a detailed within long-calibrated ranges Hallstatt Plateau recognizing short-lived regional offsets atmospheric 14 C concentrations. The key resolving these apply stringent field methodologies using microarchaeological methods, leading densely radiocarbon-dated stratigraphic sequences. Using sequences, we identify concentrations c. 720 BC, historically secure horizon Babylonian destruction 586 BC. latter verified by 100 single-ring measurements 624 572 This application intense dating sheds light on reconstruction Age. It provides for settlement 12th 10th centuries BC that westward expansion had already begun 9th century with extensive architectural projects undertaken throughout city was followed significant damage rejuvenation subsequent mid-eight earthquake, after heavily fortified continued flourish until destruction.