Drought in ancient Egypt may have led to the decline of the Old Kingdom. Researchers recently verified the historical record through pollen analysis, climate change and charcoal density. Photo Credit: Sarah Burch
Drought, reflected in a decrease of wetland pollen, is often accompanied by fire, evidenced in elevated charcoal levels. These effects compliment the historical and archaeological record, which shows an extended decrease in vegetation in the region. The timing of the drought led to famines in Egypt and may have had impact on the agriculture and trade of the broader Eastern Mediterranean. The researchers, affiliated with the U.S. Geological Survey, University of Pennsylvania and Smithsonian Institution, identified two other large climatic shifts in around the Near Eastern Bronze Age, one of which is associated with the collapse of several Eastern Mediterranean and Near Eastern states at the end of the Late Bronze Age.
Read more in the press release by the U.S. Geological Survey.
How else is pollen studied by Biblical and other archaeologists?
BAS Library members can read “Does Pollen Prove the Shroud Authentic?” as it appeared in the November/December 2000 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review, including sidebars “How to ‘Read Pollen’ and “Pollen Analysis—The Right Way.”
In the brand new FREE eBook Ancient Israel in Egypt and the Exodus, top scholars discuss the historical Israelites in Egypt and archaeological evidence for and against the historicity of the Exodus.
Interested in ancient Egypt? A new study suggests that inherited epilepsy may have contributed to the death of Tutankhamun, and the development of Egyptian monotheism.
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Could dating famines help date Joseph, assuming there was a Joseph.
Since they don’t believe the Bible and Noah’s flood in 2348 BC, their other dates are off.
Abram’s famine was 1921-1920 BC.
Isaac’s famine was 1856-1853 BC.
Joseph’s famine was 1707-1700 BC.
Aegean eruption in 8th year of Rameses III causing famine and displacement was in 1310 BC.
Eve, By what bases do you set your dates?