Direct 14C Dating of Early and Mid-Holocene Saharan Pottery

Radiocarbon dating of pottery from Tassili n'Ajjer, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the central Sahara, reveals ages spanning 8160 ± 45 BP to 5270 ± 35 BP, providing critical insights into the early-mid Holocene transition. This study demonstrates that plant material used as temper in pottery can yield reliable 14C dates, correlating with typological chronologies and confirming a shift from pre-Pastoral to Pastoral contexts during this period. The research combines geochemical and microscopic analysis to isolate plant material for dating, offering a novel approach to understanding Saharan prehistoric cultures.

Messili, L. (2013). Direct 14C Dating of Early and Mid-Holocene Saharan Pottery. Radiocarbon, 55(3–4). https://doi.org/10.2458/azu_js_rc.55.16364