The Date of Kuntillet 'Ajrud

Abstract

Since the publication of the pottery assemblage of Kuntillet 'Ajrud by Ayalon (1995), several large pottery assemblages from central, well-stratified Judahite sites have been published or studied. In this paper the Kuntillet 'Ajrud assemblage is re-examined in light of the newly-available material. A detailed review of the pottery shows that (1) the assemblage is later than had originally been estimated and should be down-dated to the end of the 8th century BCE; and (2) the bulk of the assemblage consists of Judahite rather than Phoenician and/or northern forms as were defined earlier. The circumstances and reasons for the establishment of the site in this remote location are re-evaluated with regard to this new evidence.