Christopoulou Α., Karadimas Ν., Özarslan Υ. & Ważny Τ. (2026) Absolute dating of the Late Bronze Age palace at Agios Vasileios: Insights from δendrochronology and radiocarbon methods. Dendrochronologia, 126500

Abstract
Agios Vasileios, a major Late Bronze Age site in Laconia known since the late 1960s, has gained renewed scholarly attention over the past decade following the discovery of Linear B tablets. Until recently, the site’s chronology relied primarily on pottery and human remains. In this study, dendrochronology, radiocarbon dating, and wiggle-matching analyses were applied to selected wood samples, most preserved as carbonized remains, to establish an independent absolute chronology based on tree-rings. Two site-specific chronologies were developed for juniper (Juniperus sp.) and black pine (Pinus nigra) and were cross-dated against superregional reference chronologies spanning the relevant period, originating from Anatolia (Türkiye). Both chronologies yielded consistent end dates of 1468 BCE and 1463 BCE. Radiocarbon-dated oak timbers recovered from Building D fall within 1380–1248 BCE. At least seven different locally sourced taxa were identified among the construction timbers, highlighting diverse resource use. These findings refine the chronology of Agios Vasileios and contribute to broader discussions of construction practices, resource use, and regional history in the Late Bronze Age Aegean. However, the dating results should be interpreted with caution, as the Gordion and Anatolian reference chronologies have also undergone recent revisions. Incorporating additional samples from future excavations will further help validate and strengthen the proposed chronology.