Archaeomagnetic Dating of Biblical History

Biblical archaeologists use various dating methods to uncover the history of ancient Israel. Three of those methods are relative dating, carbon-14 dating, and a newer method of archaeomagnetic dating.

In relative dating, archaeologists compare the age of things based on whether they are near the surface of a dig (younger pottery) or deeper under multiple debris layers (older pottery). In 1 Kings 9:15, we read about King Solomon’s fortification of cities, indicating that pottery found in excavations of these cities would be of the same age as the cities themselves.

Researchers can use carbon-14 dating when there is organic matter, such as seeds found in the pottery. Besides seeds, other organic matter, such as fruits and textiles, can be dated with carbon-14. While alive, all living things absorb this radioactive isotope of carbon, and once the plant or animal dies, it decays at a constant rate. By measuring the amount of carbon-14 left in the artifact, researchers can determine its age. However, much of the time, the amount of carbon-14 is too small to be measured because of a lack of organic matter or because too much of the carbon-14 has decayed. The half-life of carbon-14 is well-suited for dating between 1200 and 800 B.C., a significant period in Bible history.

Recent technology has enabled a method that uses changes in Earth’s magnetic field. Archaeomagnetic dating can determine absolute dates for materials that were deposited at high temperatures, such as those resulting from a fire, lava flow, or volcanic intrusion. When materials such as bricks or pottery are fired, their magnetic particles (domains) conform to the direction and intensity of Earth’s magnetic field. As they cool, the pattern of the field is set in stone. Since scientists understand how Earth’s magnetic field direction and intensity have changed over time, archaeologists use this baked-in orientation to determine the age of the artifact.

Using archaeomagnetism, archaeologists can verify the dates of biblical events by combining absolute and relative dating methods. An example is the date when Pharaoh Shoshenq (also known as Shishak in the KJV) attacked Jerusalem (1 Kings 14:25-26). It is becoming increasingly difficult for skeptics to dismiss the biblical account as new tools like archaeomagnetic dating enable us to verify its accuracy.

— John N. Clayton © 2025

Reference: “Dating Game” by Yoav Vaknin in the Summer 2025 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. pages 56-59.