Επανάσταση; Οι ανθρωπογενείς και οι φυσικές καταστροφές στη Μινωική Κρήτη
(2025) 13 ICCS Proceedings — Location: Hagio Nikolaos (16.September.2022)
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- Disasters are timeless, hence there is nothing that archaeologists love more than destruction layers, as they usually perfectly summarize chronological sequences and ceramic typologies. However, it is often difficult to distinguish between stratigraphic horizons corresponding to natural disasters and those caused by man-made disasters, even though detailed examination of the archaeological data normally allows us to identify the different episodes involved. In Aegean archaeology in general, and in Cretan archaeology in particular, earthquakes – and even tsunamis – are the usual suspects for the interpretation of extensive disaster layers, while less emphasis is placed on man-made disasters following conflicts. Traces of fire damage, evidence of looting and the presence of human remains in such layers (‘E.T.’), when considered in isolation, are not evaluated as conclusive evidence in identifying human-made destructions. However, their combined presence and certain specific features, such as traces of looting that precedes the destruction – rather than following it, as reflected by distinct disturbances of archaeological layers – can be interpreted as practices that would accompany an anthropogenic destruction. Since such raids often involve careful planning, preparation and execution, a thorough study of their outcome, the destruction layer, can contribute to understanding the methods and motivations behind the violent destruction of sites and the processes involved: how, who and why? In this paper, a brief review of the available data from Bronze Age Crete is presented, with a particular focus on the periods considered to be catalytic for the historical developments that took place on the island: Early Minoan IIB, Middle Minoan IIB, Late Minoan IIB, the destruction of the palace of Knossos and the end of the Bronze Age.
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Jan Driessen. (2025). Επανάσταση; Οι ανθρωπογενείς και οι φυσικές καταστροφές στη Μινωική Κρήτη. Journal of Greek Archaeology, 13(1), 1-25. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/255627 (Original work published 2025)