METROLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS - AT 8" AND 9" CENTURY SAMARIA AND MEGIDDO, ISRAEL

Abstract

“Inductive” metrology is an invaluable tool in the debate regarding the chronology of the northern Kingdom of Israel in the 8" and 9” centuries BCE.

Findings show that the Building Period 1 ‘Omride’ palace at Samaria and the Stratum VA-IVB Palace 1723 at Megiddo were both built using the “short cubit” of 0.45 m., an Egyptian unit of measurement dating to the Third Intermediate Period. The second dynasty belonging to that period is the 22™ “Libyan” Dynasty (935-730), which coincides with the inception of the Omride dynasty in the 9" century, circa 880 BCE.

The Building Period II fortifications at Samaria and key Stratum IVA elements at Megiddo were both built using the “Assyrian cubit” of 0.495 m., signifying that these two cities must have been built during a period of Assyrian influence or even under its patronage, and should be dated no earlier than the 8" century BCE.