AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Neolithic Sites in the Kashmir Valley, India: A Case Study in Minimally Invasive Sampling Strategies

ABSTRACT

This study presents accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates from three endangered Neolithic sites in the Kashmir Valley—Gufkral (Extension), Hariparigam and Qasim Bagh. As these sites are threatened by ongoing anthropogenic activities and are not suitable for large‐scale excavation, samples were collected from exposed stratigraphic sections using a minimally invasive approach. Twenty samples, including charcoal, bone, ash and charred seeds, were analysed and calibrated using the IntCal20 calibration curve. The resulting dates range from c. 2890 to 516 

and indicate that a substantial part of the Neolithic occupation falls between 2500 and 2200  . The dates broadly correspond with the established chronology of excavated Neolithic sites such as Burzahom and Gufkral, while also providing new chronological information from previously unexcavated locations. The study reports the first direct AMS dates on bone and ash samples from the Kashmir Neolithic and suggests an earlier date for the ceramic Neolithic at Hariparigam. The results demonstrate that carefully targeted sampling from exposed deposits can provide valuable chronological data while minimizing disturbance to fragile archaeological contexts.