Scientists have used the analysis of ancient plants and seeds to complete the most detailed chronology of the kings of ancient Egypt yet. The international study sheds light on one of the most important periods of Egyptian history, documenting the various rulers of Egypt's Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. In the past, the dating of events was controversial, with Egyptologists relying on various different ways of working out which king ruled over which period. But the new radiocarbon dating, led by Professor Christopher Ramsey from the University of Oxford, is said to resolve the chronology once and for all. The researchers obtained seeds, baskets, textiles, plant stems and fruits linked to the particular reigns of ancient Egyptian kings from museums worldwide. They then combined their radiocarbon data with historical information about the order and length of each king's reign to make a complete chronology of ancient Egyptian dynasties. (Daily Mail)Friday, 18 June 2010
Scientists analyse ancient plants to work out when the Egyptian kings ruled
Scientists have used the analysis of ancient plants and seeds to complete the most detailed chronology of the kings of ancient Egypt yet. The international study sheds light on one of the most important periods of Egyptian history, documenting the various rulers of Egypt's Old, Middle and New Kingdoms. In the past, the dating of events was controversial, with Egyptologists relying on various different ways of working out which king ruled over which period. But the new radiocarbon dating, led by Professor Christopher Ramsey from the University of Oxford, is said to resolve the chronology once and for all. The researchers obtained seeds, baskets, textiles, plant stems and fruits linked to the particular reigns of ancient Egyptian kings from museums worldwide. They then combined their radiocarbon data with historical information about the order and length of each king's reign to make a complete chronology of ancient Egyptian dynasties. (Daily Mail)