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February 13, 1962

Dear Dr. Baker:

May I burden you with a task of importance for the scientific progress? Could you obtain from the Museum, University of Pennsylvania, in an urgent manner, a list of all tests made on objects of the New Kingdom in Egypt (Dynasties 18, 19, and 20) and the radiocarbon results obtained? With the exception of one case (a beam with the name of Seti I of the 19th Dyn.) no result was ever published by the Museum or elsewhere: but it is known that many tests were made on objects dating from the New Kingdom and the results being not in agreement with the accepted chronology were discarded under the assumption of‘contamination.’Such was also the case with a sample of Pharaoh Merneptah of the 19th Dyn. sent to Phila. from Paris by Prof. Claude Schaeffer (excavator of Ras-Shamra-Ugarith). The reply mailed to him read: the object became contaminated in the laboratory. A new portion of the same sample was sent by Prof. Schaeffer more than six months ago and this week Prof. Schaeffer informed me that he has yet no answer.

In my understanding, objects from the New Kingdom must show a younger age, by full 540 years (18th Dyn.), 700 years (19th Dynasty, thus also Merneptah) and even more so in the case of the 20th Dynasty.

A list of all ‘unsatisfactory’results covering the New Kingdom in Egypt (in the accepted chronology -1580 to -1140) may happen to suit well the revised chronology (Ages in Chaos). . .

It is certainly most unusual that until today a very important segment of history was left without announced results as to radio-carbon dating.

I wish also to draw your attention to my letter to you on the same subject of January 23, a year ago. If, Dr. Baker, you do not feel that tile task offered here can be tackled by you or by your relatives, Family Pew, during the next fortnight, would you kindly let me know so that very precious time should not be lost; then I shall inquire of other possibilities and there will be no overlapping of efforts. I can only assure you that behind this request there is a complex of scientific problems the importance of which cannot be overemphasized. With kind regards,

  Very cordially,
  Immanuel Velikovsky