Wood from the Netherlands around the Time of the Santorini Eruption Dated by Dendrochronology and Radiocarbon

Margot Kuitems,Esther Jansma,Johannes Van Der Plicht

doi:10.1017/rdc.2020.23

Margot Kuitems, Esther Jansma + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/rdc.2020.23

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Abstract

ABSTRACTEighteen new high-precision radiocarbon (14C) dates obtained for dendrochronologically dated wood from Bodegraven, the Netherlands are reported. They are relevant for establishing the revised calibration curve around the time of the Bronze Age Santorini eruption. Most of our new data overlap within one sigma with IntCal13, but a few data points are slightly increased in 14C age compared to IntCal13.

Highlights

The catastrophic Minoan eruption of Santorini (Thera) in the second millennium BCE provides a crucial chronological anchor for Bronze Age prehistory
Historical inference largely depends on the exact shape of the calibration curve
A new single year calibration record became available, its content indicating that the curve needs to be revised (Pearson et al 2018)

Summary

Introduction

The catastrophic Minoan eruption of Santorini (Thera) in the second millennium BCE provides a crucial chronological anchor for Bronze Age prehistory. A new single year calibration record became available, its content indicating that the curve needs to be revised (Pearson et al 2018). The trees were analyzed and two of them were dated at the Netherlands Centre for Dendrochronology/RING Foundation in Amersfoort. One of the dated trees (coded BOF00041) has a growth pattern covering the time of the Santorini eruption.

Results

Conclusion