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When were the enclosures built, and in what order?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·4 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: enclosure D was built about 9500 BC and the others followed over several centuries, not at onceAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Four answers have been proposed. Enclosure D was built about 9500 BC and the others followed over several centuries, not at once. leads, with evidence 2 for: supported by its tests. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

The claim to the oldest monumental architecture rests on a small number of radiocarbon dates, and the order of enclosures A to D decides whether the site was planned at once or grew over centuries⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 4

Evidence: 2 for
Most likely
Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Disputed
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 against
Disputed

History

  1. Dietrich et al. puts forward: enclosure D was built about 9500 BC and the others followed over several centuries, not at once.
  2. Dietrich et al.: wall plaster from Enclosure D (KIA-44149): 9745–9314 cal BC; charcoal from the same enclosure 9664–9311 cal…For: Enclosure D was built about 9500 BC and the others followed over several centuries, not at once.
  3. Dietrich et al.: the radiocarbon sequence suggests C is younger than D and A younger than both.Against: Enclosures B, C and D were laid out together as a single planned project.
  4. Dietrich et al.: no radiocarbon date from the site is older than the late 10th millennium BC.Against: The enclosures are substantially older than the radiocarbon dates, about 11000 BC.
  5. Sweatman & Tsikritsis puts forward: the enclosures are substantially older than the radiocarbon dates, about 11000 BC.
  6. Haklay & Gopher puts forward: enclosures B, C and D were laid out together as a single planned project.
  7. Haklay & Gopher: the centre points of B, C and D form a near-equilateral triangle.For: Enclosures B, C and D were laid out together as a single planned project.
  8. Asked on this site
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