How Demsky's 1995 dating study pushed the dating of Tel Dan back by 800 years and manufactured a false consensus

This study examines how Demsky's 1995 palaeographic dating study contributed to pushing the Tel Dan Stele back by nearly 800 years and to manufacturing a scholarly consensus that was not subsequently re-examined. It questions the methodological hierarchy of palaeography, stratigraphy, historical contextualisation and falsifiability in the dating of the inscription. The paper argues that palaeography, when detached from taphonomic, semantic and historical controls, may become a circular dating instrument rather than an independent chronological proof.

Cette étude examine comment l'étude de datation paléographique de Demsky en 1995 a contribué à repousser la datation de la Stèle de Tel Dan de près de 800 ans et à fabriquer un consensus savant qui n'a pas été réexaminé par la suite. Elle interroge la hiérarchie méthodologique entre paléographie, stratigraphie, contextualisation historique et conditions de falsifiabilité dans la datation de l'inscription.