The Early Bronze Age Citadel at Ai (Et-Tell)

Radiocarbon Dating of Palestine in the Early Bronze Age

“…Since De Vaux (1971) prepared the excellent summary of Palestine in the Early Bronze Age, Hennessy's significant study of foreign and local correlations during the period has been published (Hennessy: 1967), and the recently excavated Ai sanctuary materials have been integrated into the archeological sequences established up to 1971 (Callaway: 1972). The following discussion is based upon the results of these works with modifications phases, comprise one architectural group with subphases designated Proto-Urban A and B (Hennessy 1967: 6).…”

“…Ai provides the greatest number of radiocarbon dates for the EB IC Period and for the Early Bronze Age in general. Unfortunately, virtually all of the radiocarbon dates published in the first volume of the Ai final report(Callaway: 1972) are deviant. These include the dates from the EB IC, EB II, and EB III Periods which were done at the University of Texas (Tx) andGakushuin University (GaK) laboratories in the early 1970's.…”

“…However, one piece (Gibeon Field No. 3430) is a hole-mouth jar rim fragmentwith rope-molding and traces of a white slip on the outside which has a close parallel in Phase VI at Ai(Callaway 1972: fig. 64:2).…”

The Unitary Association Method of Relative Dating and Its Application to Archaeological Data

“…8): Ai, Arad, Jericho, and Far'ah North (Callaway, 1972(Callaway, , 1980Amiran, 1978;Holland, 1982, 1983;de Vaux and Steve, 1948;de Vaux, 1955de Vaux, , 1961. The periods of occupation included in this analysis range from the latter part of the Late Neolithic (ca.…”

“…The criteria used for classification are based on discussions of changing pottery forms and styles for the periods in question (e.g., Hennessy, 1967;Amiran, 1969Amiran, , 1985Callaway, 1972Callaway, , 1980Hanbury-Tenison, 1986;Stager, 1992) A classification system was devised to create both superclasses and subclasses of pottery. Subclasses were created on the basis of nominal and interval scale variables, including rim diameter, form, rim lip type, and decoration type, while superclasses were defined on combinations of these subclasses.…”