Dendrochronological dating of the Egyptian dynasties

Timo Niroma (timo.niroma@tilmari.pp.fi)
1 Jul 1996 20:22:01 GMT

Based on studies of Peter Kuniholm et al. ("Anatolian tree rings and the
absolute chronology of the Eastern Mediterranian, 2220-718 BC" (Nature
381)) Colin Renfrew writes in the same issue (381/6585) with title
"Kings, tree rings and the Old World" that because we now have the Theran
eruption securately dated at 1628 BC with the accuracy to the year, this
"implies very substantial changes to the historical chronology of Ancient
Egypt". While the Theran eruption is linked to the beginning of the 18th
dynasty of Egypt, which is dated 1550 BC, this means that we must add
nearly 80 years to the traditional ages to the dynasties at least during
the second millennium BC. This means that Akhenaten (from 1375 BC
according to my encyclopedia, or from 1361 BC according to the Moses
theory of Osman), should have began his reign already sometimes near 1450
BC. same amount of redating needs of course also Tutankhamun.

Timo