Potential Applications and Limits of C14 Dating Based on the Findings from Haft Tappeh

Recent stratigraphic excavations at Haft Tappeh have allowed us to identify four Elamite building levels, the first one (level I) from the Sukkalmakh era and other three (levels II-IV) dated to the Middle Elamite period. In order to check the determined relative chronology and obtain more information regarding the absolute dating of different levels, a series of samples have been dated by radiocarbon method. The samples were chosen in such manner as to gain a precise dating and, moreover, to examine the radiocarbon method. In this regard we generally selected short life samples such as grains and fruit seeds. Furthermore, several samples were divided in two or three parts and dated separately. This method provided the opportunity to evaluate the correctness of the radiocarbon dating, which transpired that the same sample could be dated 10- 70 years differently. In addition, the samples of all building levels were generally dated rather older than their real age and the results point to a deviation between calibrated radiocarbon and historical dates in the order of 50 -100 years. Although radiocarbon method does not offer a very precise dating, it can be used to determine the relative chronology of findings. The dated samples of different building levels confirmed their stratigraphic sequence.