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Researchers have pinpointed the date of what could be the oldest solar eclipse yet recorded.

The event, which occurred on 30 October 1207 BC, is mentioned in the Bible, and could have consequences for the chronology of the ancient world – if the researchers’ findings are accepted, it would allow historians to date the reigns of the Egyptian pharaohs Ramesses the Great and his son Merneptah to within a year.

The University of Cambridge’s Colin Humphreys is co-author of the paper on the eclipse. He tells Nick Robinson how they calculated the date and why this is so significant.

(Image: Eclipse. Credit: Reuters)