AGE OF RAMSES II WITH REFERENCE TO SPECIFIC DATING TECHNIQUES
Ramses II was born in 1303 BCE and died 1213 BCE. He took over his father’s reign, Seti I, from 1279 BCE to 1213 BCE and was the third Pharaoh to reign in the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Based on these approximate records and radiocarbon dating, Ramses II was roughly ninety years old when he died. Archaeologists, historians, scientists and researchers are still not definite on when Ramses II lived, as traditional radiocarbon dating techniques used on Pharaohs were only estimations. This dating technique was known to differ results from 100 to 200 years. Seriation dating is also used to determine the age of Ramses II. By comparing similar artefacts found with the Pharaoh, such as the linen which covered his body, to those found in tombs, researchers have placed Ramses II in chronological order, in relation to the artefacts. Many still doubt in these dating techniques, and claim that Ramses II was the Pharaoh up against Moses in Exodus. As a result of these approximations, it is still not clear as to the age of Ramses II. Although there is evidence as to when Ramses II was alive, there is no real set date of the era in which Ramses II lived. |
Radiocarbon dating: estimates the carbon 14 atoms present in organic materials. It will not give a date older than 60,000 years. It is a type of absolute dating.
Seriation dating: places artefacts in chronological order, with relation to similar artefacts. It is a type of relative dating. |