During 5th, 6th and 7th seasons of fieldworks in Metsamor over fifty radiocarbon samples were collected from different parts of the settlement. From this amount 18 samples were dated using AMS and LSC methods of C14 analysis. Twelve samples were analysed in the Laboratory of Absolute Datings in Cracow, whereas six of them were analysed in the Radiocarbon Laboratory of Institute of Physics of The Silesian Technical University. In terms of their location, samples were collected from four spots of the main trench. The first spot is located close to the foundations of structure S5 in south-western part of the trench. The second spot is connected with structures S1 and S17. The third one comprise of samples collected from western chambers of House II (S8 and S9), while the fourth spot is located in eastern chambers of this building (S12, S13). Samples were taken exclusively from fragments of charcoal, measuring between 5 cm and 20 cm. Considerably large pieces of charcoal for radiocarbon analysis were found on clay floor of S1 (sample MKL-3900), close to wall 1020 (MKL 3377) and on the floor of S8 (MKL 4322). Judging from their dimensions, most probably they were the remains of burnt wooden beams that once supported wooden roofs of unearthed houses. Despite a good preservation of discovered fragments it was impossible to analyse them using dendrochronological method, because of lack of sufficient data from the territory of Armenia.
Deposition analysis of charcoal samples from the settlement area indicates that most of fragments were found on horizontal layers rather than in the pits on depth between 60- 1,20 m below present-day surface layer. There are only two exceptions of charcoal fragments being found in a shallow pits dug into stone debris of House II. Interestingly, those fragments are exclusively dated between 178-410 AD, which confirms datation of three skeleton burials from this area.
The precision of radiocarbon dating of samples from Metsamor is varying. The best precision have samples with chronological range between 1000-800 BC and 150 BC-410 AD, while dating of samples from the range between 800-350 BC is very uncertain. This is connected with so-called “Hallstatt Plateau”- not fully understood phenomenon that refers to consistently flat area on graphs that plot radiocarbon dating against calendar dates. Therefore dating from GdS-4171 to MKL-4321 are additionally calibrated by stratigraphical analysis and co-deposition of characteristic group of artifacts with short chronological appearance. In that case one of the most important ‘calibrating’ group of artifacts are Urartian red burnished vessels. It is assumed that those vessels were in use in the Ararat Plain between 780 and 550 BC.
Short description of depositional context of analysed samples, together with estimated dating of samples fallen into the “Hallstatt Plateau”.
MKL-4320- fragmented charcoals/ lower clay floor of structure S17
GdS- 4175- fragmented charcoals/ lower clay floor of structure S17
GdS-4171- fragmented charcoals/ clay floor of structure S12
MKL- 3900- burnt wooden beam/ clay floor of structure S1
GdA- 6096- fragmented charcoals/ clay floor of structure S13
MKL- 4324- burnt wood/ lower clay floor of structure S9
MKL- 4323- fragmented charcoals/ levelling layer under wall 1037 which separated S8 from S9
MKL- 4322- fragmented charcoals/ abandonment deposit from S8
MKL-3897- burnt wood/ upper clay floor of structure S9
MKL- 3898- fragmented charcoals/ burnt layer underneath wall 1045
MKL- 3377- burnt wooden beam/ probably fragment of clay floor associated with wall 1020
MKL- 4321- fragmented charcoals/ pit dug into clay floor of S10
GdA- 6095- fragmented charcoals/ shallow pit dug into debris of S13
GdS- 4156- fragmented charcoals/ stone debris of S18
GdS-4167- fragmented charcoals/ burnt layer outside of S18
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