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

Laurent Lespez,Ségolène Saulnier-Copard,Séverine Lescure,Arthur Glais,Clément Virmoux,Jean-François Berger,Charlotte Pearson,Sylvie Müller Celka,Maia Pomadère,Franck Lavigne

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-94859-1

Abstract

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.

Highlights

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
The palatial town of Malia is one of the major centers of the Minoan civilization (Fig. 1). It flourished during the Middle and, to a lesser extent, Late Bronze Ages, before abandonment in the Late Minoan IIIB (LM IIIB) in the 13th c
This eruption was one of the most powerful recorded on earth during the last 10,000 years[2,3] with an estimated Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 7, and a Dense Rock Equivalent (DRE) of 78–86 km[3]

Summary

Introduction

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. The high energy deposits of C21 mainly show a 20 cm structureless sand layer close to the current beach sediment (Supplementary Fig. S11) comprising coastal biogenic elements (U4a) indicating that the beach was the main sedimentary source.

Results

Conclusion