Alex: “I also contacted Christopher Ramsey and asked him to comment on how reliable the model was built for the Old Kingdom in "Radiocarbon-Based Chronology for Dynastic Egypt". He answered: "[...] There are indeed very few dates in this model for the Old Kingdom. There are more particularly relating to the early and pre-dynastic in subsequent publications which may be more useful in this regard." From his answer, I can conclude that a reliable model for the Old Kingdom has not yet been created for unknown reasons.”



Dates from a team led by Professor Christopher Ramsey from Oxford's Department of Archaeology, in ‘An absolute chronology for early Egypt using radiocarbon dating and Bayesian statistical modelling’ 2013, compared to dates in ‘The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt’ Ian Shaw 2000: 480 that have a margin of error of about +-50 years for the OK, and as much as +-150 years for Dyn. 1.

Foundation of the state of Egypt:
Ramsey: Dyn. 1 Aha, c.3085 BCE
Shaw: 3000 BCE
Ramsey: Dyn. 2 Hetepsekhemwy, c.2880 BCE
Shaw: 2890 BCE

Dr Ramsey’s radiocarbon dates are more or less consistent with dates given in ‘The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt’ which effectively blocks attempts to extend Dyn. 4 back in time as much as 200 years.


From a BBC 2010 article:

“The step pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara is believed to be the oldest stone pyramid in Egypt. Dr Ramsey's team was able to determine the exact period when this king reigned in Egypt - from about 2691 to roughly 2625 BC, said the scientist. The team found that this particular event took place earlier than some scholars previously thought.”

Again, these dates are more or less consistent with 2667-2648 for Djoser, Shaw 2000: 480

Professor Christopher Ramsey: “For the first time, radiocarbon dating has become precise enough to constrain the history of ancient Egypt to very specific dates. I think scholars and scientists will be glad to hear that our small team of researchers has independently corroborated a century of scholarship in just three years.”

Journal of Archaeological Science Vol. 46, 2014, ’High-precision dendro 14C dating of two cedar wood sequences from First Intermediate Period and Middle Kingdom Egypt…’:

A FIP date from cedar wood: “The last extant ring of the Ipi-ha-ishutef coffin lies ca. 2081–2064 BC (95.4% probability), supporting, but refining, its assumed date.”

Again, dates more or less consistent with FIP: 2160 - 2055 BC - Shaw 2000: 480.

Chris