Discovery of a tsunami deposit from the Bronze Age Santorini eruption at Malia (Crete): impact, chronology, extension

Abstract A geomorphological survey immediately west of the Minoan town of Malia (Crete) shows that a tsunami resulting from the Bronze Age Santorini eruption reached the outskirts of the Palatial center. Sediment cores testify a unique erosional event during the Late Minoan period, followed locally...

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Auteurs principaux: Laurent Lespez, Séverine Lescure, Ségolène Saulnier-Copard, Arthur Glais, Jean-François Berger, Franck Lavigne, Charlotte Pearson, Clément Virmoux, Sylvie Müller Celka, Maia Pomadère
Format: article
Langue:EN
Publié: Nature Portfolio 2021
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Accès en ligne:https://doaj.org/article/a83d2bea9aec42aca406dd70c0e5a14c
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Résumé:Abstract A geomorphological survey immediately west of the Minoan town of Malia (Crete) shows that a tsunami resulting from the Bronze Age Santorini eruption reached the outskirts of the Palatial center. Sediment cores testify a unique erosional event during the Late Minoan period, followed locally by a high energy sand unit comprising marine fauna. This confirms that a tsunami impacted northern Crete and caused an inundation up to 400 m inland at Malia. We obtained a radiocarbon range of 1744–1544 BCE for the secure pre-tsunami context and an interval 1509–1430 BCE for the post-event layer. Examination of tsunami deposits was used to constrain run-up not exceeding 8 m asl. The results open the field for new research on the Bronze Age Santorini tsunami regarding both impact and consequences for the Minoan civilization.