The Date of the Minoan Santorini Eruption: Quantifying the “Offset”

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Despite many recent attempts to settle the dispute concerning the absolute date of the Minoan Santorini eruption, there are still differences between some archaeologists and scientists on the absolute dates and the reliability of radiocarbon dating. The recent publication of over 200 new ,4 C dates for dynastic Egypt rules out a major flaw in the historical chronology of Egypt and proves the reliability of 14 C dating in the Nile Valley. Therefore, the student of Aegean archaeology and eastern Mediterranean interconnections is still confronted with an archaeologically based conventional, or "low," chronology and a 14 C-backed "high" chronology. New 14 C determinations from different sites of the Aegean support the high chronology for the Late Minoan (LM) IA, while recent re-evaluation of LM IB determinations are slightly higher but more or less in agreement with archaeological estimations. The present contribution reviews archaeological and scientific data for the LM IA period and argues that a reduced (-30 to 50 yr) offset between archaeological and 14 C dates for the Minoan Santorini eruption may be possible, thus offering new perspectives for potential solutions for this problem.

Israel's Exodus in Transdisciplinary Perspective

“…However, since the first radiocarbon results were published in the 1970s, a schism has developed between the historical and scientific communities over when the event actually took place (Betancourt and Weinstein 1976;Betancourt 1987;Manning et al 2006;. In brief, the archaeo-historical estimates for the eruption are primarily based on ceramic synchronisms between the Aegean and Egypt (summarized by Höflmayer 2012). These linkages date the event to the late sixteenth century BCE or at least after the commencement of the New Kingdom.…”

“…Despite the vast quantity of literature submitted on both sides of the debate, no agreement has yet been reached (see Fig. 6.3;Friedrich and Heinemeier 2009;Wiener 2010;Höflmayer 2012;Manning 2014). Nonetheless, some very recent archaeological finds may provide a route forward.…”

“…A crucial terminus post quem for the eruption at the site of Tell el-Daba is a seal of the Hyksos king, Khayan, found in Stratum D/3. His rule is thought to predate the eruption, largely because a ceramic lid bearing his name was found on Crete in phases prior to the eruption (Höflmayer 2012), although the integrity of this find has recently been challenged (Manning 2014). The chronology of the Hyksos kings is at best fragmentary, but Khayan has traditionally been dated to the late 15th Dynasty, only a matter of decades before the Hyksos were expelled from Egypt.…”

Tree Rings and the Chronology of Ancient Egypt

“…The dynasty comes to a close with the reign of Horemheb, to whom various scholars ascribe a reign as short as 13 years or as long as 35 (van Dijk 2008:200). Likewise, synchronizing ancient relative chronologies with episodes of natural disasters that left telltale evidence across the region, such as the volcanic eruption that devastated the island of Santorini sometime in the Bronze Age, remains contentious (Höflmayer 2012;Manning and Kromer 2012). van Dijk 2008).…”

Tree Rings and the Chronology of Ancient Egypt

“…van Dijk 2008). Likewise, synchronizing ancient relative chronologies with episodes of natural disasters that left telltale evidence across the region, such as the volcanic eruption that devastated the island of Santorini sometime in the Bronze Age, remains contentious (Höflmayer 2012;Manning and Kromer 2012).…”