Minoans, the archaeological evidence of decline

Collapse of the minoans
ARCHAEOLOGY CYMRU PANDEMIC SERIES 2 lectures
Recorded in Llantwit Major online recording
Part 9
16th of July 2020
Stand-up archaeologist
Actor
Author

[CmacKw]

The problem with the 17th-century BC date for the terminal phase for the Thera Event is there are now tree-ring dates that tie down the late 18th dynasty. So the overwhelming evidence indicates the final catastrophic eruption occurred early in the sole reign of Amenhotep II which using the Egyptian long-count chronology dates around 1450 BC. For the dating of the Thera Event and the end of Akrotiri, a few questions remain. But now the Egyptian chronology is anchored to the timbers found with the Uluburun shipwreck which were cut around 1305 BC. But when was the ship built, and more importantly when did it actually sink? The answers to these questions could in theory shift the entire Egyptian Chronology years farther away in time from the radiocarbon dating of this period. For example, did the ship sank while on a diplomatic mission during the reign of Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten when Nefertiti was still queen and his chief wife? According to the Egyptian short count chronology, this would have been before 1330 BC. With a possible early date for the wreck of the Uluburun ship at 1295 BC, this means we must slide the entire Egyptian short count chronology at least 35 years away from the radiocarbon date which is already at least 150 years too old.
In relative terms what I understand about the Thera Event is that the covering of Akrotiri in a mountain of ash more or less represented the ceramic horizon that separates Late Minoan (LM) Ia and LM Ib. This cannot be disputed. However, rather than a decline, as one might expect in the aftermath of a catastrophic event, instead the level of production and execution of LM Ib ceramic art represented the highest achievement in the palatial tradition of Cretan artistry. The subsequent transition from LM Ib to LM II represents a rapid decline in production, as well as the use of native Cretan forms and decorative motifs. This was paralleled by the widespread adoption of Mycenaean vessel forms and motifs. Without question, this represented the Mycenaean conquest of a weakened Minoan Crete.
Also in relative terms, a wide range of evidence that includes Minoan pottery transitioned from LM Ia to LM Ib very likely occurred early in the regency of the Egyptian 18th dynasty Hatshepsut. Thus regardless of the calendar date, we may assume that Akrotiri was covered in a mountain of ash very early in the reign of Hatshepsut. Yet, at the same time contacts between Egypt and Minoan Crete with imports from the latter increased dramatically over the next 50 years, throughout the reign of Thutmose III. Moreover, the Cretan pottery imported into Egypt at this time has been classified as LM Ib. Then the last economic and diplomatic contacts with Minoan Crete appear to have ended sometime after the coronation of Amenhotep II, as depicted on the Theban tomb of Rechmire. Very little trade with Crete is evidenced by the near absence of LM II pottery in Egypt. Strong economic and diplomatic ties between Egypt and Crete, associated with LM IIIa pottery (even more influenced by Mycenaean style and type), were clearly resumed around 40 to 50 years later during the reign of Amenhotep III, Amenhotep II's grandson.
Amenhotep III and LM IIIa1 pottery bring us to the Uluburun Ship tree-ring dates which indicate the ship was built around 1300 BC and sank off the coast of Anatolia a few years later. For this region, I believe this is the only reliable absolute date for the entire 2nd millennium BC. Excavated between 1984 and 1994 the presence of a gold scarab inscribed with the name of Nefertiti and 18 LM IIIa2 stirrup jars onboard figuratively anchors the late 18th Dynasty in time. We know that Amenhotep III's heir, Amenhotep IV/Akhenaten, and thus Nefertiti were associated with LM IIIa2-b1 pottery.
What the Uluburun Ship tree-ring date does is support the Egyptian short-count rather than the long-count chronology. This effectively moves the date of the Thera Event some 20 to 30 years even farther away from the radiocarbon dates, which as I noted above were already 150 years too old. Now if we use the Uluburun Ship tree-ring dates of around 1300 to 1295 BC and move backward in time accounting for the 40 years of the Amarna period-LM IIIa2-b2, approximately 40 years of Amenhotep III with LM IIIa1, and nearly 30 years for the reigns of Thutmose IV and part of the Amenhotep II's reign with LM II we get a total of around 110 years. Adding this to the Uluburun Ship tree-ring date of between 1300 and 1295 BC we get the LM Ib - LM II horizon at 1410 (which may be extended to around 1420) to 1400 BC. This should represent the date for the final catastrophic phase of the Thera Event.
In turn, I would suggest that by adding 40 to 50 years for the reigns of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III which corresponds to the period documented for the use of LM Ib pottery we reach a date around 1470 to 1440 for the horizon that separates LM Ia from LM Ib. Therefore the initial phase of the Thera eruption that resulted in Akrotiri being abandoned and buried in ash occurred at this time, the mid 15th century BC. This ash phase encased, hardened, and stabilized the site so when the massive explosion occurred at the start of the final phase the settlement wasn't totally leveled. Again, the final catastrophic phase must have happened around 1400, add or subtract 10 to 20 years, as the Uluburun Ship tree-ring date, the correlation with Cretan pottery types, together with the Egyptian relative chronology offers very little wiggle room.
The real problem with radiocarbon dating is its accuracy depends on a static amount of atmospheric carbon. If I'm correct, over a 40 to 50 year period prior to the final catastrophic event Thera dumped a tremendous amount of carbon into the upper atmosphere. Given the fact the measurement of C-14 decay is based on volume, this massive infusion of carbon (C-14) would naturally make an analyzed sample appear older than it actually is. There is a lot circumstantial evidence that ties Amenhotep II to the final phase of the Thera Event, but this is good for now.

[gruboniell]

Also around 1650 bc tall el hammam was hit with a Tunguska type event vapouring the local towns

[mikederp]

We didn't call the Romans, Roman because where the city was first established, they themselves called themselves Romani, or Roman.

[ryanb]

The Minoan civilization has to be one of the most fascinating civilizations in history. I wish I had time to participate in the excavations.

[AndYourLittleDog]

Can you cite the source for the Chinese volcanic winter? I’ve never heard that before. Absolutely fascinating!

[rafaelfcf]

For a lecture on the evidence of decline of the Minoans, there ain't much of it in the video. The lecturer spends too much time on anecdotes, talking about Atlantis, or on how the Thera site looks much better than Pompeii. Very frustrating trying to watch through these circular topics that keeping coming back, when they have nothing to do with the Minoan decline.

[dalina]

The ancient minoans have not disappear ! They are the modern Greek now !that’s why they so dark .. The white marble statue are the Albanians all the gods were Albanian the language was Albanian.. but something happen in the Greek dark ages and they stole Albanian History and they think, they are the ancient hero’s ... 🇦🇱