To date or not to date: Radiocarbon and the arrival of the philistines

Here I deal with two recent attempts to radiocarbon-date the transition from the Late Bronze to the Iron I and the arrival of the Philistines based on samples from Tell es-Safi/Gath and Qubur el-Walaydah. I first detail five conditions for constructing a proper radiocarbon model aimed at resolving a historical question, especially in the case of a dispute involving no more than a few decades. I then demonstrate that the situation in the relevant areas at Tell es-Safi/Gath and Qubur el-Walaydah - stratigraphy, contexts and control over ceramic typology - do not adhere to these conditions. Finally, I assemble and compare all available radiocarbon data for the Late Bronze IIB/III and the Late Bronze III/Iron I transitions and comment on two issues related to the traditional Philistine paradigm.