Keywords:
Civilization, Aegean.
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Geology -- Greece -- Thera Island Region.
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Minoans.
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Volcanism -- Greece -- Thera Island Region.
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Santorini Volcano (Greece) -- Eruptions.
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Thera Island (Greece) -- Antiquities.
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Thera Island Region (Greece).
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Electronic books.
Description / Table of Contents:
When the Greek island of Santorini, classically known as Thera, erupted dramatically in 1613 BC (+/- 13 years), it produced one of the largest explosions ever witnessed, thereby possibly giving rise to the legend of Atlantis. This so-called 'Minoan' eruption triggered tsunamis that devastated coastal settlements in the region, and on Santorini it left behind a Bronze Age Pompeji, which is currently being excavated. Thriving Bronze Age settlements on the island - rich in colorful wall paintings and highly sophisticated pottery - were buried under thick layers of volcanic ash. The ejection of an immense volume of dust into the atmosphere also altered global climate for several years.The author, a well-known geologist, blends the thrill of scientific discovery with a popular presentation of the geology, archeology, history, peoples, and the environmental settings of the island group of Santorini. He not only gives a comprehensive overview of the volcanic island and its past, but also reports on the latest discoveries: The finding, for example, of the olive trees which had been buried alive by the Minoan eruption has made it possible now to give a direct and precise radiocarbon date for the volcanic catastrophe. Furthermore, he seeks to assign certain geological structures, such as faulted rocks, red lavas and harbor sites, as depicted on the Bronze Age frescos from Santorini, to still-existing details in the Santorini landscape of today.Excellent color photographs and illustrations along with easily understandable scientific and historic details will make this book highly appealing to a wide audience. It will also be useful as a supplementary text for introductory courses in earth and atmospheric science, geology, volcanology, and paleoclimatology, as well as ancient history and archeology.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
Pages:
1 online resource (326 pages)
Edition:
1st ed.
ISBN:
9788779347472
Series Statement:
Vide Verden Series
URL:
https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/geomar/detail.action?docID=1050622
DDC:
551.210949585
Language:
English
Note:
Front Matter -- Front Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- I The geological framework -- 1 The geography of Santorini -- Thera - the main island of Santorini -- Therasia - the Little Thera -- Aspronisi - the White Island -- The Kameni Islands -- The Caldera - the large central basin -- Kolumbos - the invisible volcano -- The Christiana Islands - relatives of the Santorini volcanic group -- An island with deep roots in history -- 2 Santorini and plate tectonics -- Continental drift and Plate tectonics -- Geology of the Aegean region -- 3 The geological development of Santorini -- Non-volcanic rocks -- Volcanic rocks and their deposition -- 4 Stratigraphy - the backbone of geology -- Paleontological remains -- Marine fossils of the Profitis Elias -- Marine fossils at Archangelos Vouno -- Absolute dating -- Dating of organic remains -- Tephrochronology -- 5 Plant remains and geological time -- Plant fossils in volcanic regions -- The plant fossils of Santorini -- Plant remains of the Fira Beds -- Plant fossils on Therasia -- Plants as indicators of climate -- The flora of Santorini today -- II The Minoan eruption -- 6 The mechanism of the Minoan eruption -- Was there warning of the eruption? -- The first (Plinian) phase -- The second (base surge) phase -- The third phase -- Was there a fourth eruption phase? -- The effects of the Minoan eruption -- Effects on flora and fauna -- What do the adjacent islands show? -- Destructions on Crete -- Climatic deterioration in China -- Comparable eruptions -- 7 When did the catastrophe occur? -- Absolute and relative dating methods -- Archeological estimates of age -- Other attempts at dating -- Olive trees and their history -- Investigation of the olive branch -- Discussions and questions -- III The volcano releases its secret.
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8 A Bronze Age Pompeii -- The first discoveries on Therasia -- The discoveries on Thera -- 9 What was living on the island during the Bronze Age? -- Plants and animals -- The flora -- The fauna -- 10 An idea takes hold -- Geological clues for reconstruction of the island -- Fossils solve the problem -- Pieces added to the reconstruction -- Minerals for color pigments -- Stones and building materials -- Clay deposits -- Metallurgy -- Archeological evidence -- Rocks shown on frescoes -- Old settlements on the caldera walls -- The findings on northern Thera -- Findings in the Karageorghis quarry -- Findings in the Mavromatis quarry -- Ships fresco decoded? -- Home harbor found? -- A photo from the Bronze Age -- 11 Geological observations and mythology -- Did the Minoan eruption cause the Exodus and the Ten Plagues? -- Was Atlantis on the Bronze Age island? -- The Minoan culture and Atlantis -- The Atlantis theory of Galanopoulos -- Thinking the unthinkable -- Modern Geology and Atlantis -- IV The island is changing its appearance -- 12 The caldera is filling again -- Volcanic activity in historical time -- The present day caldera -- The eruption of 197 BC -- A precursor of Palea Kameni? -- The eruption of 46 AD -- A historical turning point (726 AD) -- Mikra Kameni appears (1570-1573) -- The Kolumbos eruption of 1649-1650 -- The appearance of Nea Kameni -- Mikra and Nea Kameni unite -- The eruptions of 1925 to 1928 -- The eruptions of 1939 to 1941 -- The eruptive activity of 1950 -- 13 Volcanism today -- Fumaroles, solfataras, and hot springs -- Ore minerals in hot springs -- Volcanic hazards -- Earthquakes -- Tsunamis -- Lava flows and ash-falls -- Floating pumice -- Slumping, landslides and stone fall -- Volcanic gases -- Natural hazards -- Seismic monitoring -- Tectonic lines -- 14 Present and future changes of the island -- Erosion due to flooding.
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Changes due to human activity -- Strange structures on the sea floor -- Volcanoes are unpredictable -- V Appendices -- Plato's dialogs: Critias and Timaeus -- List of illustrations -- Fossils from Santorini -- The modern flora of Santorini -- Excavations at Balos in 1870 by Gorceix and Mamet -- VI References and indices -- References -- Name Index -- Subject Index.
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