Discovery of Minoan tsunami deposits

The Hellenic are is a terrane of extensive Quaternary volcanism. One of the main centers of explosive eruptions is located on Thera (Santorini), and t he eruption of the Thera volcano in late Minoan time (1600-1300 B.C.) is co nsidered to have been the most significant Aegean explosive volcanism durin g the late Holocene. The last eruptive phase of Thera resulted in an enormo us submarine caldera, which is believed to have produced tsunamis on a larg e scale. Evidence suggesting seawater inundation was found previously at so me archaeological sites on the coast of Crete; however, the cause of the ts unami and its effects on the area have not been well understood. On the Aeg ean Sea coast of western Turkey (Didim and Fethye) and Crete (Gouves), we h ave found traces of tsunami deposits related to the Thera eruption. The sed imentological consequences and the hydraulics of a Thera-caused tsunami ind icate that the eruption of Thera volcano was earlier than the previous esti mates and the tsunami did not have disruptive influence on Minoan civilizat ion.