Volcanic ash and tsunami record of the Minoan Late Bronze Age Eruption (Santorini) in a distal setting, southwestern Turkey

Volcanic ash, victims, and tsunami debris from the Late Bronze Age Thera eruption discovered at Çeşme-Bağlararası (Turkey)

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2114213118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 119 (1) ◽

pp. e2114213118

Author(s):

Vasıf Şahoğlu ◽

Johannes H. Sterba ◽

Timor Katz ◽

Ümit Çayır ◽

Ümit Gündoğan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

Volcanic Ash ◽

Thick Layer ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

Tsunami Deposit ◽

Late Bronze Age ◽

Mediterranean Studies ◽

Ash Layer ◽

Time Capsule ◽

Thera Eruption

The Late Bronze Age Thera eruption was one of the largest natural disasters witnessed in human history. Its impact, consequences, and timing have dominated the discourse of ancient Mediterranean studies for nearly a century. Despite the eruption’s high intensity (Volcanic Explosivity Index 7; Dense Rock Equivalent of 78 to 86 km) [T. H. Druitt, F. W. McCoy, G. E. Vougioukalakis, Elements 15, 185–190 (2019)] and tsunami-generating capabilities [K. Minoura et al., Geology 28, 59–62 (2000)], few tsunami deposits are reported. In contrast, descriptions of pumice, ash, and tephra deposits are widely published. This mismatch may be an artifact of interpretive capabilities, given how rapidly tsunami sedimentology has advanced in recent years. A well-preserved volcanic ash layer and chaotic destruction horizon were identified in stratified deposits at Çeşme-Bağlararası, a western Anatolian/Aegean coastal archaeological site. To interpret these deposits, archaeological and sedimentological analysis (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy instrumental neutron activation analysis, granulometry, micropaleontology, and radiocarbon dating) were performed. According to the results, the archaeological site was hit by a series of strong tsunamis that caused damage and erosion, leaving behind a thick layer of debris, distinguishable by its physical, biological, and chemical signature. An articulated human and dog skeleton discovered within the tsunami debris are in situ victims related to the Late Bronze Age Thera eruption event. Calibrated radiocarbon ages from well-constrained, short-lived organics from within the tsunami deposit constrain the event to no earlier than 1612 BCE. The deposit provides a time capsule that demonstrates the nature, enormity, and expansive geographic extent of this catastrophic event.

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More thoughts about Thera

Greece and Rome ◽

10.1017/s0017383500016685 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 37-46

Author(s):

J. V. Luce

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

Volcanic Ash ◽

South Coast ◽

Late Bronze Age ◽

Intrinsic Interest ◽

Ash Fall ◽

Magazine Articles ◽

The Village ◽

Firm Evidence ◽

Initial Exploration

In 1965 the notable paper ‘Santorini Tephra’ by D. Ninkovich and B. C. Heezen provided the first firm evidence that the Late Bronze Age eruption of the Thera volcano directly affected the eastern part of Crete through ash fall-out. In July 1967 Professor Marinatos's initial exploration of a settlement buried under volcanic ash near the village of Akrotiri on the south coast of Thera received worldwide publicity, partly for its intrinsic interest, but perhaps even more because the discovery was linked with the magic word Atlantis. The whole subject was then extensively aired in newspaper and magazine articles, and three books on the theme of Thera-cum-Atlantis appeared in 1969.

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The Concept of Palestine: The Conception Of Palestine from the Late Bronze Age to the Modern Period

Journal of Holy Land and Palestine Studies ◽

10.3366/hlps.2016.0140 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 143-202 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nur Masalha

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

Old Testament ◽

Political Geography ◽

Classical Antiquity ◽

Late Bronze Age ◽

Collective Consciousness ◽

Ancient History ◽

Master Narratives ◽

The Bible ◽

School History

The Concept of Palestine is deeply rooted in the collective consciousness of the indigenous people of Palestine and the multicultural ancient past. The name Palestine is the most commonly used from the Late Bronze Age (from 1300 BCE) onwards. The name Palestine is evident in countless histories, inscriptions, maps and coins from antiquity, medieval and modern Palestine. From the Late Bronze Age onwards the names used for the region, such as Djahi, Retenu and Cana'an, all gave way to the name Palestine. Throughout Classical Antiquity the name Palestine remained the most common and during the Roman, Byzantine and Islamic periods the concept and political geography of Palestine acquired official administrative status. This article sets out to explain the historical origins of the concept of Palestine and the evolving political geography of the country. It will seek to demonstrate how the name ‘Palestine’ (rather than the term ‘Cana'an’) was most commonly and formally used in ancient history. It argues that the legend of the ‘Israelites’ conquest of Cana'an’ and other master narratives of the Bible evolved across many centuries; they are myth-narratives, not evidence-based accurate history. It further argues that academic and school history curricula should be based on historical facts/empirical evidence/archaeological discoveries – not on master narratives or Old Testament sacred-history and religio-ideological constructs.

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