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Reasons To Believe Home PageApplying 18 new high-precision carbon-14 measurements to large timbers found in archeological sites throughout Turkey, an international team of researchers has developed a stunningly precise method for establishing eastern Mediterranean chronology and corroborating related chronologies, including that of the Old Testament.1
The new technology enabled researchers to match the rings in certain Turkish timbers with the rings of ancient but still living trees in Europe (Irish and Central European oaks) and California (bristlecone pines). Extreme ring widths in the timbers were linked to dramatic climatic events, most notably the volcanic eruption of Thera in the Aegean Sea during that region’s late bronze age.
The results of this breakthough can only be described as remarkable. EasternMediterranean history from 2220 to 718 B.C. can now be authenticated to a precision of ±one year. The importance for Bible scholars is enormous. Since many historical events in Turkey can be connected to historical events mentioned in Scripture, the possibility for demonstrating Old Testament historicity comes closer than ever.
A first attempt at such corroboration has just been published by two Dutch archeologists working in the ruins of ancient Jericho.2 They dated some scorched grain seeds found in the ruins as having been alive about 45 years after the date of Thera’s eruption. If God used Thera to bring the plague of darkness upon Egypt,3 and if the seeds of grain were scorched when Joshua’s army burnt Jericho after their conquest of the city,4 the Dutch archeologists have then confirmed both the approximate timing and the duration of the exodus of the Hebrew peoples from Egypt to Canaan. These findings are merely speculative, of course. They do not constitute proofs, but they do demonstrate reasonable possibilities.
As society deteriorates and the assaults on our Christian faith become more pervasive and extreme, God will strengthen our "shield of faith" in whatever ways we need, perhaps even through scientifically derived evidences that the biblical history and geography are supernaturally accurate.
1. Peter Ian Kuniholm, et al, "Anatolian Tree Rings and the Absolute Chronology of the Eastern Mediterranean, 2220-718 BC," Nature, 381 (1996), pp. 780-783.
2. Hendrik J. Bruins and Johannes van der Plicht, "The Exodus Enigma," Nature, 382 (1996), pp. 213-214.
3. Exodus 10:21-29, Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV).
4. Joshua 5:13 - 6:27, NIV.
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