The PPNB site of Dja’de on the middle Euphrates is one of the rare sites where the transition from the latest phase of the PPNA to the early PPNB is well documented. Moreover, it shows a continuous development until the transition to the middle PPNB.

The excavators conclude that the “sequence of Dja’de clearly demonstrates that the dichotomy of the PPNA-PPNB corresponds in no way to the cultural development at the site, which shows a continuous evolution […]”. In consequence, they consider the separation between the PPNA and PPNB proposed according to the excavations at Jericho in the 1950ies as a possible chronological framework but misleading, because it suggests “[…] cultural changes where are none“ (Coqueugniot 2014:94, trans. MB).

The uninterrupted sequence of the radiocarbon data (s. Fig. 1) supports this conclusion. However, some aspects should be considered carefully.

Phase I is well dated by six radiocarbon dates (with a BP range below +/- 150)¹ to a range between 9130 cal BC and 8640 cal BC (Lyon 4706-Lyon 4704). There is only one date, Lyon-2604, which gives a calibrated age of 9305 to 9205 cal BC. When compared to the two data from the natural soil, below the first occupation, which range between 9130 cal BC and 8800 cal BC, this date seems too old. There is also one more recent date (Lyon (GrA) 6902) ranging between 8710 cal BC and 8560 cal BC. It is probably intrusive and belongs to Phase II. The bone sample Ly 2614 is much too recent, being out of the range all other data.

The assessment of the chronology of Phase I is quite difficult because all dates of that early phase and of the pre-occupation phase cluster on the plateau between 9120 cal BC and 8850 cal BC.

Moreover, the sum of the radiocarbon data from Phase I-II (9120-8720 cal BC) overlaps with that of phase I.

The sum of the radiocarbon data from Phase II ranges between 8790 cal BC and 8480 cal BC with two probable outliers (Ly 15455 and Ly 13630). So this phase overlaps with the “Phase de Transition” defined at Jerf el Ahmar by Danielle Stordeur and Frédéric Abbès (2002) and the beginning of the early PPNB.

The sum of the radiocarbon data from Phase III ranges between 8540 cal BC and 8290 cal BC. This range is again on a rather flat area of the calibration curve, corresponding to the early PPNB.

To sum up, the ranges of the radiocarbon data from Dja’de suggest an uninterrupted occupation of Dja’de from 9120 cal BC to 8290 cal BC. Whereas the data of Phases I and III give rather identical ranges for each phase, respectively, those of Phase II seem to show a continuous development (Fig. 1). This distribution is due to the curse of the calibration curve with two plateaus between 9120 and 8850 cal BC and 8550 and 8300 cal BC, whereas the range between 8850 and 8550 cal BC corresponds to a steeper part.
The radiocarbon data thus underline a continuous occupation from the late PPNA until the very end of the early PPNB. Although a possible hiatus might be hidden because of the two plateaus of the calibration curve, the technological and cultural changes of material culture speak in favour of a continuous evolution (Coqueugniot 2014).

1)      All calibrated ranges are given in the 1-sigma range (68%); radiocarbon data with BP ranges larger than +/- 150 were not considered for calibration.