The chronology of the Aegean Late Bronze Age with special reference to the 'Minoan' eruption of Thera
The chronology of the Aegean Late Bronze Age is a vigorously contested area of archaeological study, with ~high~ and ~low~ schemes emerging over the last three decades. The chronological lynchpin for this period is the catastrophic eruption of Thera (Santorini), at a point in the mature Late Minoan (LM) I A ceramic period. Two possible calendrical ranges for this eruption have emerged: c. 1540 - 1500 BC, and c. 1645 - 1628 BC. The latter first gained currency in the 1970s, and the controversy focuses on which range is more probable. This thesis examines the chronology of the Late Minoan (LM), Late Cycladic (L Cyc), Late Helladic (LH) and Late Cypriot (LC) periods in detail and their various relationships with the eruption. Because archaeological methods of dating these sequences, which traditionally place the eruption within the later range, are fluid and open to re-interpretation (in favour of the earlier range), the calendrical date of the eruption is of crucial importance. The scientific arguments, which tend to favour the earlier range, are analysed alongside the archaeological arguments. Finally, the effects of the eruption, and their implications for chronology, are considered. A comprehensive catalogue
Dunn, Stuart E.
Cyclades
The chronology of the Aegean Late Bronze Age with special reference to the 'Minoan' eruption of Thera. The chronology of the Aegean Late Bronze Age is a vigorously contested area of archaeological study, with ~high~ and ~low~ schemes emerging over the last three decades. The chronological lynchpin for this period is the catastrophic eruption of Thera (Santorini), at a point in the mature Late Minoan (LM) I A ceramic period. Two possible calendrical ranges for this eruption have emerged: c. 1540 - 1500 BC, and c. 1645 - 1628 BC. The latter first gained currency in the 1970s, and the controversy focuses on which range is more probable. This thesis examines the chronology of the Late Minoan (LM), Late Cycladic (L Cyc), Late Helladic (LH) and Late Cypriot (LC) periods in detail and their various relationships with the eruption. Because archaeological methods of dating these sequences, which traditionally place the eruption within the later range, are fluid and open to re-interpretation (in favour of the earlier range), the calendrical date of the eruption is of crucial importance. The scientific arguments, which tend to favour the earlier range, are analysed alongside the archaeological arguments. Finally, the effects of the eruption, and their implications for chronology, are considered. A comprehensive catalogue
chronology aegean special_reference minoan eruption thera chronology aegean vigorously contest area archaeological_study high_low scheme emerge chronological period catastrophic eruption thera point mature late_minoan ceramic period possible range eruption emerge latter first gain currency controversy focus range probable examines chronology late_minoan late cycladic late_helladic late_cypriot period detail various relationship eruption archaeological method date sequence traditionally place eruption within late range fluid open re_interpretation favour early range date eruption crucial importance scientific argument tend favour earlier range analyse alongside archaeological argument finally effect eruption implication chronology consider comprehensive catalogue