Woolley’s Level |
Period |
Absolute dates BCE |
Alalakh/Mukiš allied with: |
XVII-VIII |
MB IIA-IIB |
Late 19th-mid 17th century |
Yamhad |
VII |
MB IIB |
Mid 17th-mid 16th century |
|
VI |
MB IIC |
Second half of 16th century |
Hittites/independent |
V |
LB IA |
First half of 15th century |
Independent/Mittani |
IV |
LB IB-IIA |
Mid 15th-late 14th century |
Mittani |
III-I |
LB IIB |
Late 14th-early 12th century |
Hittites |
Although Alalakh’s stratified material remains were a key element in the widespread adoption of the so-called “middle chronology,” (McClellan 1989: 181), the calendar years used here reflect the “low” chronology, which Gates (1981, 1987, 2000), Heinz (1992), McClellan (1989), and Williams (1975) have demonstrated is most suitable to Alalakh’s stratigraphy and ceramic typologies, and is accordingly followed by many scholars (e.g., Bergoffen 2005; Stein 1997; von Dassow 1997; Zeeb 2001). For recent discussion of the so-called high, middle, low, and ultra-low chronologies, see Åström 1987; Gasche et al. 1998; Manning 1999; Wiener 2003.