Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7443585 | Journal of Archaeological Science | 2014 | 16 Pages |
Abstract
Cedar (Cedrus sp.) wood from two archaeological contexts in Egypt - (i) the First Intermediate Period coffin of Ipi-ha-ishutef, (ii) a funerary boat at the pyramid of Middle Kingdom king Senusret (or Sesostris or Senwosret) III - form floating tree-ring sequences. Since one of the sample sets had been mounted with Elmer's glue products in core-mounts for dendrochronological examination, we investigate whether pretreatment can remove this potential contaminant before 14C dating. We find that even in (unrealistic) cases of extensive glue contamination this can be largely/successfully removed - making it likely that the samples in this study, where, moreover, only wood samples without traces of glue were employed, can provide accurate 14C dates. Dendro-14C-wiggle-matching was then employed to provide precise calendar dates for the two tree-ring sequences. The last extant ring of the Ipi-ha-ishutef coffin lies ca. 2081-2064Â BC (95.4% probability), supporting, but refining, its assumed date. In the case of the Senusret III boat, we find a temporary, small, but important offset within the period ca. 2200-1900Â BC in contemporary 14C ages between the Levant and central and northern Europe. It is suggested this is likely a result of exaggeration of normal seasonal variations in the uptake of 14C and its latitudinal distribution caused by climate change in the 2200-1900Â BC/4200-3900Â Cal BP (y2k) interval. A date for the last extant ring of the Senusret III boat is probably around 1898/95-1879/76Â BC (95.4% probability) - more consistent with a high Middle Kingdom Egyptian chronology.
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Physical Sciences and Engineering
Materials Science
Materials Science (General)
Authors
Sturt W. Manning, Michael W. Dee, Eva M. Wild, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Kathryn Bandy, Pearce Paul Creasman, Carol B. Griggs, Charlotte L. Pearson, Andrew J. Shortland, Peter Steier,