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

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 15487
• Main Authors: Lespez, Laurent, Lescure, Séverine, Saulnier-Copard, Ségolène, Glais, Arthur, Berger, Jean-François, Lavigne, Franck, Pearson, Charlotte, Virmoux, Clément, Müller Celka, Sylvie, Pomadère, Maia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 29.07.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 704/2151/215; 704/4111; Bronze Age; Cores; Environmental Sciences; Eruptions; Humanities and Social Sciences; Marine fauna; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sciences of the Universe; Tsunamis; Crete; Santorini; Tsunami; Crete; Minoan World; Bronze Age
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94859-1

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.