Archaeologists have made a discovery, Turkey. A team led by Professor Dr. Sevinç Günel from Hacettepe University uncovered dense layers of volcanic ash dating back approximately 3,500 years, believed to be from the catastrophic eruption of Santorini's volcano in the 1500s BCE at Tepecik Höyüğü, an ancient mound in the Çine district of Aydın. The finding sheds new light on the far-reaching impact of one of the largest volcanic events in ancient history.
During the 2023 excavations, the team observed that the ashes were not related to any local fire events. Noting their unique color and structure, they suspected a volcanic origin. "The volcanic ashes at Tepecik Höyüğü are quite widespread and in thick layers," Professor Günel explained, according to Hürriyet. "This indicates that the eruption's devastation extended beyond the immediate aftermath."
To confirm their hypothesis, the team sent ash samples for analysis. "The ashes were analyzed at the Technical University of Vienna's Atomic Institute," Professor Günel stated, as reported by Milliyet. "The results showed that the elements in the ashes are similar to those of the Santorini eruption."
Further examinations revealed that the ashes contained microscopic glass fragments, typical of volcanic eruptions. "Volcanic ashes contain formations like crystal-shaped glass fragments that are difficult to see with the naked eye," Professor Günel noted. "The presence of these formations in the ashes indicates that they are volcanic ashes." This microstructural analysis provided concrete evidence of their origin.
One of the most striking aspects of the discovery was the extent of the ash coverage. The volcanic ash had enveloped architectural remains and even the remains of an adult skeleton. This detail underscores the severity of the eruption's impact on human settlements far from Santorini itself. "These ashes arrived in the region after the volcanic eruption that occurred on Santorini Island 3,500 years ago," Professor Günel said, according to CNN Türk. "They reveal the far-reaching impact of the catastrophic eruption, including destruction related to the eruption and ongoing earthquakes afterward."
Tepecik Höyüğü, with a history spanning 7,500 years, has long been a site of archaeological interest. The mound has yielded numerous artifacts that offer insights into ancient Anatolian civilizations.
"The effect of the volcanic eruption that occurred in Santorini in the 1500s BCE can be seen from Western Anatolia to the Eastern Mediterranean," Professor Günel emphasized, as reported by Anadolu Ajansı. This widespread dispersion of ash indicates that the eruption had profound ecological and societal impacts across a vast region.
This discovery aligns with other findings across the region. In the coastal city of Çeşme, tsunami remnants and traces of volcanic ash have bee
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq