The radiocarbon dates of Hallan Çemi (Rosenberg, Redding 2000) reach far back into the Natufian (11100-9300 BC).[1]However, the oldest dates have such high deviations that they even cover the main occupational phase during the early Holocene. Although these early dates were not considered in the calibration, it must be kept in mind that there was in fact an occupation of the site before the Holocene. Two much later AMS-dates (Oxa 12878; Oxa 12879) possibly point to an early Neolithic settlement.
The main occupation of the site starts around 9660 BC and lasts until about 9320 BC.[2] It is relatively well dated on the basis of several charred seeds; but due to the plateau of the calibration curve these data are much elongated and it is not possible to shorten the time range. This phase might be a little older than the communal building of EA 47 (Niveau III Est) of Jerf el Ahmar, although both dates overlap slightly. It would be clearly older than the compartmented communal buildings of Mureybet IIIA and Jerf el Ahmar (EA 30, EA 7).
According to botanical and faunal remains and growth bands of fresh water clam (Unio tigridus) shell a year-round occupation of this early Holocene site is probable (Rosenberg et al. 1998).
[1] These dates were not calibrated because of their high standard deviation.
[2] It doesn’t matter whether the Beta radiocarbon dates are included in the sum or only those of the short-lived plants. The sum of all dates ranges between 9660-9570 (17.1%); and 9560-9320 (51.1%), and for the dates of the short-lived plants 9660-9570 (18.4%) and 9550-9330 (49.8%).
