NAA OF THE MINOAN PUMICE AT THERA AND COMPARISON TO ALLUVIAL PUMICE DEPOSITS IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Neutron activation analysis was used to determine up to 30 elements in the pumice layers from the ''Minoan eruption'' at Thera (Santorini, G reece). Mt Pilato (Lipari, Italy) and in alluvial pumice from coasts o f the Eastern Mediterranean region. The morphologically well distingui shable layers of the ''Minoan pumice'' were found to be of nearly simi lar composition in respect to the elements determined and their distri bution patterns could therefore be used to identify a sample as Santor inian or not. Additionally, this method was applied to pumice lumps fo und during archaeological excavations in the Nile delta, Egypt. The re sults showed that two of the three Egyptian samples are products of th e Minoan eruption at Thera and therefore chronologically useful. A sec ond group of pumices collected at Antalya (Turkey), Crete (Greece) and also in Egypt was found to have a distinctly different composition an d is therefore related to another volcanic event.