Groundbreaking radiocarbon dating reveals new insights into ancient site in Israel

Archaeologists have long sought to merge the stories told in ancient texts with the physical evidence hidden beneath the earth's surface.

In a pioneering study published in the renowned PLOS ONE journal, a team of researchers has used radiocarbon dating to uncover new insights into events described in Biblical narratives, particularly those surrounding the mysterious ancient Levantine city of Gezer, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

This fascinating exploration transports us to the heart of Gezer, an archaeological site located in the historic region of Israel. For centuries, the city has intrigued scholars and theologians alike, thanks to its references in Egyptian, Assyrian, and Biblical records. In this study, we delve into how radiocarbon dating has brought new understanding to the city's complex history, confirming some long-standing theories while challenging others.

To unravel the secrets of Gezer's past, the archaeologists employed radiocarbon dating to analyze 35 organic samples, mostly seeds, gathered from various layers of sediment at the site. These organic materials, dating from the 13th to the 9th centuries BCE, offer crucial evidence of a period marked by dramatic shifts, including periods of destruction and subsequent rebuilding. 

Lyndelle Webster, one of the authors of the study from the Austrian Academy of Sciences, highlighted the importance of their work, stating, "Our publication provides the first radiocarbon-based chronology for Tel Gezer in the period 13th through 9th centuries BCE. This allowed us to independently test whether the correlations that have been proposed between certain archaeological layers and events from written sources are feasible from a chronological point-of-view." 

As the radiocarbon results began to come in, they began to piece together Gezer's history, revealing connections to key events described in Biblical and other ancient texts. One significant finding was the destruction of Gezer during the reign of the pharaoh Merneptah, a pivotal moment recorded in ancient history. 

The study describes the destruction in vivid detail: "Most walls of the administrative building had fallen in the same direction (westward), and the structure was buried in up to 1.5 meters of mudbrick debris; concentrations of boulders filled some rooms," the study reported. This catastrophic event appeared to take the city's residents by surprise, as the building was found largely abandoned. In addition, the research team uncovered strong evidence supporting the Biblical account of the ancient Egyptian king Shishak's role in the fall of Gezer. 

This discovery, bolstered by radiocarbon dating, lends credence to the historical narrative, confirming Shishak's existence as the first Egyptian king mentioned by name in the Bible. Much like the destruction linked to Merneptah, the event associated with Shishak aligns with the radiocarbon dates, suggesting that Gezer's downfall was both swift and violent.

By Naila Huseynova