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Cited by 40Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and HistoryArchaeology and ancient environmental studiesAncient and Medieval Archaeology Studies

The Bronze Age Eruption of Thera: Absolute Dating, Aegean Chronology and Mediterranean Culture Interrelations

Manning, Sturt·1988·Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology
DOI 10.1558/jmea.v1i1.17
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Abstract

This paper presents and integrated chronological analysis of the archaeological, and other scientific evidence related to the absolute dating of the Bronze Age eruption of Thera, and of contemporary Aegean and Mediterranean cultures. The resulting composite interpretation is that the traditionally accepted date for the eruption ca. 1500 BC, and the traditionally accepted Aegean chronology, are both too low and must be reassessed significantly. In their place an 'earlier' eruption date, in the later 17th century BC, and a similarly 'high' ceramic absolute chronology, are proposed. The frost-ring date of ca. 1628-26 BC for the Thera eruption, suggested in 1984 by LaMarche and Hirschboeck, appears possible. These conclusions, requiring a revised 'high' Middle Minoan III to Late Minoan IIIA chronology are supported further by a statistical analysis of Middle Minoan III to Late Minoan IB Aegean radiocarbon dates (and now also by recently published Greenland ice-core and Irish tree-ring dates). In addition, such discussion may promote some rethinking of the synthetic interpretations of cultural relations between the second Millennium and Aegean and the outside world.

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  • There is not, and never has been, any good, clear set of archaeological linkages/synchronisms that tie the Aegean (Cretan) MMIII through LMIA periods to the approximate Egyptian historical chronology.

    “there is not, and never has been, any good, clear, set of archaeological linkages/synchronisms that tie the Aegean (Cretan) MMIII through LMIA periods to the approximate Egyptian historical chronology”

    From Second Intermediate Period date for the Thera (Santorini) eruption and historical implications (2022) · cites this paper as [98]

  • There is a conspicuous gap in any secure connections during MMIII to LMIA.

    “there is, as long-noted, a conspicuous gap in any secure connections during MMIII to LMIA [7,9,11,84,98,168]”

    From Second Intermediate Period date for the Thera (Santorini) eruption and historical implications (2022) · cites this paper as [98]

  • A late 17th century BC date range is more easily potentially compatible with a revised interpretation of the east Mediterranean archaeological synchronizations than an earlier mid-17th century BC date, which causes many more problems and contradictions.

    “By preferring a late 17th century BC date range, we find a result that is more easily potentially compatible with a revised interpretation of the east Mediterranean archaeological synchronizations (e.g.Kemp and Merrillees 1980;Betancourt 1987;Manning 1988Manning , 1999Manning , 2007Manning , 2009;;Manning et al. 2006;Manning and Bronk Ramsey 2009;Manning and Kromer 2011a)-whereas an earlier date”

    From Considerations of the Scale of Radiocarbon Offsets in the East Mediterranean, and Considering a Case for the Latest (Most Recent) Likely Date for the Santorini Eruption (2012) · cites this paper as Manning 1988

  • Since the mid-1980s, a date for the Minoan eruption of Santorini 100 to 150 yr higher than previously argued was suggested by radiocarbon dating and climatic events recorded in ice cores and tree rings, placing the end of the Late Minoan IA period in the second half of the 17th century BCE.

    “Since the mid-1980s, a date for the Minoan eruption of Santorini 100 to 150 yr higher than previously argued was suggested by radiocarbon dating and climatic events recorded in ice cores and tree rings from North America, Europe, and”

    From The Date of the Minoan Santorini Eruption: Quantifying the “Offset” (2012) · cites this paper as Manning 1988

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Authors
Manning, S.
Affiliations
University of Sheffield (GB)
Corresponding author
Manning, Sturt
ORCID
Manning, Sturt
Venue
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology
Publisher
Equinox Publishing
Published
1988-06-01
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
17-82
ISSN
  • 0952-7648 (ISSN-L)
  • 1743-1700
DOI
10.1558/jmea.v1i1.17
OpenAlex
W2105944310
Cited by
40
References
0
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2012: 3
FWCI
39.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient Mediterranean Archaeology and History
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
Keywords
Thera eruption, Santorini, eruption chronology, Minoan chronology, radiocarbon dating

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