The advent of archaeoseismology in the Mediterranean

Jones, R.E. and Stiros, S. (2000) The advent of archaeoseismology in the Mediterranean. In: McGuire, W.J., Griffiths, D.R., Hancock, P.L. and Stewart, I.S. (eds.) The Archaeology of Geological Catastrophes. Series: Geological Society special publication (171). Geological Society: London, pp. 25-32. ISBN 9781862390621

Abstract

This paper presents a brief historical overview of the development of archaeoseismology from the observations of Lanciani at ancient sites in Rome, of Kritikos in Athens, Evans at Knossos and Blegen at Troy, to the emergence in the last years of the twentieth century of archaeoseismology as a distinct sub-discipline of palaeoseismology. Some current issues are explored, beginning with major seismic events such as that in AD 365 in the Eastern Mediterranean whose effects were geographically widespread but uneven in their destructive severity; generalizations are hard to come by, and each case has to be examined on its own merits. The need to examine the suitability of building methods and materials in areas of seismic risk is emphasized. Finally, the contribution of seismic events to destruction horizons in two contrasting cases in the prehistoric Aegean is considered: at Mycenaean centred in the Argolid in the 13th and 12th centuries BC, and in the Peloponnese at the end of Early Bronze II.

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Jones, Dr Richard
• Authors: Jones, R.E., and Stiros, S.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Humanities > Archaeology
• Publisher: Geological Society
• ISBN: 9781862390621

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