The volcanic eruption of Santorini (one of the Aegean islands of Greece, in ancient times called Thera) was a cataclysmic event in the middle of the second millennium B.C. Since it provides an absolute time beacon, a correct date of the eruption is of great interest for synchronizing civilizations during the Bronze Age in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, despite considerable efforts on different frontiers, the debate on the correct date remains largely polarized between archaeologists and scientists, who disagree on the absolute date by about 100 years. The situation as it stands will be discussed, with an outlook for possible solutions of the problem.

Argonne Physics Division Seminar Schedule