Walter L. Friedrich | Aarhus University (original) (raw)

Articles by Walter L. Friedrich

Research paper thumbnail of W. L. Friedrich, J. R. Wilson, A. H. Sørensen, S. Katsipis: Synchronous Pumice Mantle Found on Santorini Volcano - 2021

International Journal of Geosciences, 2021

It is generally accepted that the vent of the 3.6 ka Minoan eruption was situated in the water-fi... more It is generally accepted that the vent of the 3.6 ka Minoan eruption was situated in the water-filled Santorini caldera prior to the Minoan eruption. One should therefore expect to find huge quantities of pumice and ash on the inner side of the caldera walls, but there is only a relatively small amount preserved. An unexpected discovery of remnants of a synchronous pumice mantle of the Minoan eruption appears to solve this enigma. A lengthy period of erosion and the intensive quarrying of pumice for the construction of the Suez Canal (1859 to 1869) led to the removal of an enormous amount of material and information for generations of geologists. The synchronous pumice mantle covered the whole caldera wall from rim to sea level. Archaeological finds under the pumice mantle show that the caldera wall was accessible and inhabited in the Bronze Age. Furthermore, this discovery documents that only one Minoan eruption took place and that the so-called "Lower pumice" does not exist on Santorini.

Research paper thumbnail of A. Højen Sørensen, W. L. Friedrich, K. M. Søholm: Metamorphoses and hybridity in the wall-paintings at Akrotiri, Thera, in Popular Religion and Ritual in Prehistoric and Ancient Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, eds. G. Vavouranakis,  K. Kopanias, C. Kanellopoulos, Archeopress, 2018, 47-54.

A. Højen Sørensen, W. L. Friedrich, K. M. Søholm: Metamorphoses and hybridity in the wall-paintings at Akrotiri, Thera, in Popular Religion and Ritual in Prehistoric and Ancient Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, eds. G. Vavouranakis, K. Kopanias, C. Kanellopoulos, Archeopress, 2018, 47-54.

Research paper thumbnail of The Minoan eruption of Santorini in Greece dated to 1645 BC

Nature, 1987

The eruption on Santorini (Thera: 36.40° N, 25.40° E) in the Aegean Sea during Late Minoan time i... more The eruption on Santorini (Thera: 36.40° N, 25.40° E) in the Aegean Sea during Late Minoan time is considered the most violent volcanic event in the Mediterranean in the second millennium BC. The eruption buried a number of developing Bronze Age settlements on the island (one of which is presently being excavated at the village Akrotiri1) and spread huge amounts of tephra over the eastern Mediterranean and adjacent lands2-7. This event is therefore an important time marker both for archaeologists and Earth scientists. A dating of the eruption has previously been attempted by archaeological inference1,8 and by radiocarbon dating, but the two methods have tended to give ages that deviate by up to 150 years. Here we present a new ice-core dating of the eruption, which suggests an age of 1645 BC based on variations in acid fallout in the annual ice layers in a core drilled at the site Dye 3 (65.18° N, 43.49° W) in South Greenland.

Research paper thumbnail of The Minoan eruption of Santorini in Greece dated to 1645 BC

Research paper thumbnail of Existence of a water-filled caldera prior to the Minoan eruption of Santorini, Greece

Naturwissenschaften, 1988

Research paper thumbnail of Santorini (Greece) before the Minoan eruption: a reconstruction of the ring-island, natural resources and clay deposits from the Akrotiri excavation

Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Santorini Eruption Radiocarbon Dated to 1627-1600 B.C

Research paper thumbnail of TERTIARE PFLANZEN AUS BRJANSLÆKUR (NW-ISLAND) IN SELTENER ERHALTUNG

The Tertiary plant fossils from Brjånslaekur, NW Iceland, consist of very detailed leaf imprints ... more The Tertiary plant fossils from Brjånslaekur, NW Iceland, consist of very detailed leaf imprints in shales which were deposited in a small shallow fresh-water basin.

Research paper thumbnail of A Miocene Ecosystem from Northern Idaho

Research paper thumbnail of COMPARISON OF FRUITS AND SEEDS OF FOSSIL SPIREMATOSPERMUM (ZINGIBERACEAE) WITH THOSE OF LIVING CENOLOPHON

Well-preserved fruits of Spirematospermum wetzleri (Heer) Chandler from a new Miocene locality in... more Well-preserved fruits of Spirematospermum wetzleri (Heer) Chandler from a new Miocene locality in Jutland, Denmark, are trilocular and have axile placentation. This is in contradiction to previous opinions. The fruits are in morphology and anatomy quite similar to those of the living species Cenolophon oxymitrum (Schum.) Holttum from Thailand. The seeds of the living species show spiral striation on the testa which is well-known, from the fossil ones.

Research paper thumbnail of Fire in the Sea

The legend of the lost city of Atlantis has captivated the human imagination for centuries. Did t... more The legend of the lost city of Atlantis has captivated the human imagination for centuries. Did this city actually exist, and, if so, what happened to it? Was it destroyed in the greatest cataclysmic event of the Bronze Age? While the truth behind the legend of Atlantis may never be known, Fire in the Sea tells the story of one of the largest and most devastating natural disasters of classical history that may also hold vital clues to the possible existence and fate of the lost city. In vivid prose, author Walter L. Friedrich describes the eruption of the Greek island of Santorini, or Thera, sometime in the 17th or 16th century BC. This eruption, perhaps one of the largest explosions ever witnessed by humankind, sent a giant cloud of volcanic ash into the air that eventually covered settlements on the island. Friedrich relates how this event forever altered the course of civilization in the region, and inspired a mystery that has fired humanity's imagination ever since. More than 160 elegant, full-color photographs and vivid prose capture the beauty, the geology, archaeology, history, peoples and environmental setting of Santorini. Fire in the Sea will readily appeal to the general reader interested in natural catastrophies as well as the beauty of the region. It will also enchant anyone who has ever dreamt about uncovering the mystery of the legend of Atlantis. Walter Friedrich is currently an associate professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark. He has visited Santorini at least 35 times since 1975 and has published numerous scientific articles in such international journals as Nature, Lethaia, Spektrum der Wissenschaft, and other publications.

Research paper thumbnail of W. L. Friedrich & A. Højen Sørensen, New light on the Ship Fresco from Late Bronze Age Thera, Praehistorische Zeitschrift, 85.2, 2010, 243-257

Späte Bronzezeit, Schiffs-Fresco, Häfen, Satellitenbilder, Thera, Caldera von Santorin, Akrotiri,... more Späte Bronzezeit, Schiffs-Fresco, Häfen, Satellitenbilder, Thera, Caldera von Santorin, Akrotiri, Wandmalerei, Miniaturfresco. Bronze final, Fresque navale, ports, images satellites, Thera, caldera de Santorin, Acrotiri, peinture murale, fresque miniature. Late Bronze Age, ship fresco, double harbour, satellite images, Thera, caldera of Santorini, Akrotiri, wall paintings, Miniature fresco. Die Wandmalereien der antiken Stadt Akrotiri auf der Hauptinsel Thera der Santorin-Inselgruppe gehören zu den schönsten und am besten erhaltenen Kunstwerken der ägäischen Spätbronzezeit überhaupt. Im Westhaus von Akrotiri wurde ein Fresco mit einem Bildfries entdeckt, dass eine Schiffsprozession zwischen zwei Häfen zeigt. Seit der Entdeckung des Frieses (1971) gab es zahlreiche Interpretationsansätze. Im folgendem Artikel deuten wir das Fresco auf Basis geologischer Gegebenheiten sowie archäologischer Forschungen und verdeutlichen unsere Thesen in Kombination mit Satellitenbildern. Daraus ergibt sich eine Lage der dargestellten Häfen innerhalb der Caldera von Santorin. Möglicherweise lassen sich auch die archäologischen Fundstellen Ballos -1870 ausgegraben -und Raos (gegenwärtig erfolgende Ausgrabungen) mit dem Fresco in Verbindung setzen. Zusammenfassend vermuten wir, dass das Fresco eine Schiffsprozession in der Caldera von Santorin darstellt. Les fresques de la ville antique d'Acrotiri à Thera, l'île principale de Santorin, comptent parmi les oeuvres d'art les plus belles et les mieux conservées du Bronze tardif égéen. La Maison Ouest d'Acrotiri a révélé des fresques miniatures en forme de frises, dont l'une représente une procession de navires entre deux ports. Plusieurs interprétations furent avancées depuis sa découverte (1971). Dans cet article, nous interprétons la fresque à l'aide de données géologiques et de recherches archéologiques, et développons nos thèses en y joignant des images satellites. En ressort la localisation des deux ports dans la caldera de l'archipel de Santorin. Il n'est pas exclu de pouvoir aussi relier à la fresque les sites de Ballos -fouillé en 1870 -et de Raos (en cours de fouille). En résumé, nous pensons que la fresque représente une procession de navires à l'intérieur de la caldera de Santorin.

Research paper thumbnail of W. L. Friedrich, 2015, The Santorini Volcano: Volcanic hazards through Time, in F. Riede (ed.): Past Vulnerability: Volcanic eruptions and human vulnerability in traditional societies past and present, Aarhus, 169-178.

Research paper thumbnail of Kynlega stór aldin úr síðtertíerum setlögum á Íslandi / Unusually large samaras from Late Miocene sediments in Iceland

Research paper thumbnail of W. L. Friedrich, A. Højen Sørensen & S. Katsipis, Santorini Before the Minoan Eruption: The Ship Fresco from Akrotiri - A Geological and Archaeological Approach, in PHYSIS. 14ème rencontre égéenne international, Paris, dec. 2012, (Aegaeum 37), 2014, 475-479

Research paper thumbnail of A. Højen Sørensen, W. L. Friedrich, S. Katsipis & K. Søholm, Miniatures of meaning – interdisciplinary approaches to the miniature frescoes from the west house at Akrotiri on Thera, in 1600, Tagungen des Landesmuseums für Vorgeschichte Halle 8, Halle/Saale, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of A. Højen Sørensen, K. Søholm & W. L. Friedrich, Bronzealderens Santorini i antikkens fortællinger', in O. Højris & B. Poulsen (eds.) Antikkens Verden, Aarhus, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of W. Friedrich, J. Heinemeier og A. Højen Sørensen, Et træ med historie, Naturens Verden, vol. 90 no. 1, 2007, 2-11

Research paper thumbnail of W. Friedrich og A. Højen Sørensen, Et Bronzealdermaleri bliver levende, Aktuel Naturvidenskab, 3, 2010, 40-43

Research paper thumbnail of A. Højen Sørensen & W. L. Friedrich, Time Table, in D. A. Warburton (ed.), Time's Up! Dating the Minoan Eruption of Santorini, Aarhus and Athens, 2009 , frontispice

Research paper thumbnail of W. L. Friedrich, J. R. Wilson, A. H. Sørensen, S. Katsipis: Synchronous Pumice Mantle Found on Santorini Volcano - 2021

International Journal of Geosciences, 2021

It is generally accepted that the vent of the 3.6 ka Minoan eruption was situated in the water-fi... more It is generally accepted that the vent of the 3.6 ka Minoan eruption was situated in the water-filled Santorini caldera prior to the Minoan eruption. One should therefore expect to find huge quantities of pumice and ash on the inner side of the caldera walls, but there is only a relatively small amount preserved. An unexpected discovery of remnants of a synchronous pumice mantle of the Minoan eruption appears to solve this enigma. A lengthy period of erosion and the intensive quarrying of pumice for the construction of the Suez Canal (1859 to 1869) led to the removal of an enormous amount of material and information for generations of geologists. The synchronous pumice mantle covered the whole caldera wall from rim to sea level. Archaeological finds under the pumice mantle show that the caldera wall was accessible and inhabited in the Bronze Age. Furthermore, this discovery documents that only one Minoan eruption took place and that the so-called "Lower pumice" does not exist on Santorini.

Research paper thumbnail of A. Højen Sørensen, W. L. Friedrich, K. M. Søholm: Metamorphoses and hybridity in the wall-paintings at Akrotiri, Thera, in Popular Religion and Ritual in Prehistoric and Ancient Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, eds. G. Vavouranakis,  K. Kopanias, C. Kanellopoulos, Archeopress, 2018, 47-54.

A. Højen Sørensen, W. L. Friedrich, K. M. Søholm: Metamorphoses and hybridity in the wall-paintings at Akrotiri, Thera, in Popular Religion and Ritual in Prehistoric and Ancient Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, eds. G. Vavouranakis, K. Kopanias, C. Kanellopoulos, Archeopress, 2018, 47-54.

Research paper thumbnail of The Minoan eruption of Santorini in Greece dated to 1645 BC

Nature, 1987

The eruption on Santorini (Thera: 36.40° N, 25.40° E) in the Aegean Sea during Late Minoan time i... more The eruption on Santorini (Thera: 36.40° N, 25.40° E) in the Aegean Sea during Late Minoan time is considered the most violent volcanic event in the Mediterranean in the second millennium BC. The eruption buried a number of developing Bronze Age settlements on the island (one of which is presently being excavated at the village Akrotiri1) and spread huge amounts of tephra over the eastern Mediterranean and adjacent lands2-7. This event is therefore an important time marker both for archaeologists and Earth scientists. A dating of the eruption has previously been attempted by archaeological inference1,8 and by radiocarbon dating, but the two methods have tended to give ages that deviate by up to 150 years. Here we present a new ice-core dating of the eruption, which suggests an age of 1645 BC based on variations in acid fallout in the annual ice layers in a core drilled at the site Dye 3 (65.18° N, 43.49° W) in South Greenland.

Research paper thumbnail of The Minoan eruption of Santorini in Greece dated to 1645 BC

Research paper thumbnail of Existence of a water-filled caldera prior to the Minoan eruption of Santorini, Greece

Naturwissenschaften, 1988

Research paper thumbnail of Santorini (Greece) before the Minoan eruption: a reconstruction of the ring-island, natural resources and clay deposits from the Akrotiri excavation

Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 2000

Research paper thumbnail of Santorini Eruption Radiocarbon Dated to 1627-1600 B.C

Research paper thumbnail of TERTIARE PFLANZEN AUS BRJANSLÆKUR (NW-ISLAND) IN SELTENER ERHALTUNG

The Tertiary plant fossils from Brjånslaekur, NW Iceland, consist of very detailed leaf imprints ... more The Tertiary plant fossils from Brjånslaekur, NW Iceland, consist of very detailed leaf imprints in shales which were deposited in a small shallow fresh-water basin.

Research paper thumbnail of A Miocene Ecosystem from Northern Idaho

Research paper thumbnail of COMPARISON OF FRUITS AND SEEDS OF FOSSIL SPIREMATOSPERMUM (ZINGIBERACEAE) WITH THOSE OF LIVING CENOLOPHON

Well-preserved fruits of Spirematospermum wetzleri (Heer) Chandler from a new Miocene locality in... more Well-preserved fruits of Spirematospermum wetzleri (Heer) Chandler from a new Miocene locality in Jutland, Denmark, are trilocular and have axile placentation. This is in contradiction to previous opinions. The fruits are in morphology and anatomy quite similar to those of the living species Cenolophon oxymitrum (Schum.) Holttum from Thailand. The seeds of the living species show spiral striation on the testa which is well-known, from the fossil ones.

Research paper thumbnail of Fire in the Sea

The legend of the lost city of Atlantis has captivated the human imagination for centuries. Did t... more The legend of the lost city of Atlantis has captivated the human imagination for centuries. Did this city actually exist, and, if so, what happened to it? Was it destroyed in the greatest cataclysmic event of the Bronze Age? While the truth behind the legend of Atlantis may never be known, Fire in the Sea tells the story of one of the largest and most devastating natural disasters of classical history that may also hold vital clues to the possible existence and fate of the lost city. In vivid prose, author Walter L. Friedrich describes the eruption of the Greek island of Santorini, or Thera, sometime in the 17th or 16th century BC. This eruption, perhaps one of the largest explosions ever witnessed by humankind, sent a giant cloud of volcanic ash into the air that eventually covered settlements on the island. Friedrich relates how this event forever altered the course of civilization in the region, and inspired a mystery that has fired humanity's imagination ever since. More than 160 elegant, full-color photographs and vivid prose capture the beauty, the geology, archaeology, history, peoples and environmental setting of Santorini. Fire in the Sea will readily appeal to the general reader interested in natural catastrophies as well as the beauty of the region. It will also enchant anyone who has ever dreamt about uncovering the mystery of the legend of Atlantis. Walter Friedrich is currently an associate professor at the Department of Earth Sciences, University of Aarhus, Denmark. He has visited Santorini at least 35 times since 1975 and has published numerous scientific articles in such international journals as Nature, Lethaia, Spektrum der Wissenschaft, and other publications.

Research paper thumbnail of W. L. Friedrich & A. Højen Sørensen, New light on the Ship Fresco from Late Bronze Age Thera, Praehistorische Zeitschrift, 85.2, 2010, 243-257

Späte Bronzezeit, Schiffs-Fresco, Häfen, Satellitenbilder, Thera, Caldera von Santorin, Akrotiri,... more Späte Bronzezeit, Schiffs-Fresco, Häfen, Satellitenbilder, Thera, Caldera von Santorin, Akrotiri, Wandmalerei, Miniaturfresco. Bronze final, Fresque navale, ports, images satellites, Thera, caldera de Santorin, Acrotiri, peinture murale, fresque miniature. Late Bronze Age, ship fresco, double harbour, satellite images, Thera, caldera of Santorini, Akrotiri, wall paintings, Miniature fresco. Die Wandmalereien der antiken Stadt Akrotiri auf der Hauptinsel Thera der Santorin-Inselgruppe gehören zu den schönsten und am besten erhaltenen Kunstwerken der ägäischen Spätbronzezeit überhaupt. Im Westhaus von Akrotiri wurde ein Fresco mit einem Bildfries entdeckt, dass eine Schiffsprozession zwischen zwei Häfen zeigt. Seit der Entdeckung des Frieses (1971) gab es zahlreiche Interpretationsansätze. Im folgendem Artikel deuten wir das Fresco auf Basis geologischer Gegebenheiten sowie archäologischer Forschungen und verdeutlichen unsere Thesen in Kombination mit Satellitenbildern. Daraus ergibt sich eine Lage der dargestellten Häfen innerhalb der Caldera von Santorin. Möglicherweise lassen sich auch die archäologischen Fundstellen Ballos -1870 ausgegraben -und Raos (gegenwärtig erfolgende Ausgrabungen) mit dem Fresco in Verbindung setzen. Zusammenfassend vermuten wir, dass das Fresco eine Schiffsprozession in der Caldera von Santorin darstellt. Les fresques de la ville antique d'Acrotiri à Thera, l'île principale de Santorin, comptent parmi les oeuvres d'art les plus belles et les mieux conservées du Bronze tardif égéen. La Maison Ouest d'Acrotiri a révélé des fresques miniatures en forme de frises, dont l'une représente une procession de navires entre deux ports. Plusieurs interprétations furent avancées depuis sa découverte (1971). Dans cet article, nous interprétons la fresque à l'aide de données géologiques et de recherches archéologiques, et développons nos thèses en y joignant des images satellites. En ressort la localisation des deux ports dans la caldera de l'archipel de Santorin. Il n'est pas exclu de pouvoir aussi relier à la fresque les sites de Ballos -fouillé en 1870 -et de Raos (en cours de fouille). En résumé, nous pensons que la fresque représente une procession de navires à l'intérieur de la caldera de Santorin.

Research paper thumbnail of W. L. Friedrich, 2015, The Santorini Volcano: Volcanic hazards through Time, in F. Riede (ed.): Past Vulnerability: Volcanic eruptions and human vulnerability in traditional societies past and present, Aarhus, 169-178.

Research paper thumbnail of Kynlega stór aldin úr síðtertíerum setlögum á Íslandi / Unusually large samaras from Late Miocene sediments in Iceland

Research paper thumbnail of W. L. Friedrich, A. Højen Sørensen & S. Katsipis, Santorini Before the Minoan Eruption: The Ship Fresco from Akrotiri - A Geological and Archaeological Approach, in PHYSIS. 14ème rencontre égéenne international, Paris, dec. 2012, (Aegaeum 37), 2014, 475-479

Research paper thumbnail of A. Højen Sørensen, W. L. Friedrich, S. Katsipis & K. Søholm, Miniatures of meaning – interdisciplinary approaches to the miniature frescoes from the west house at Akrotiri on Thera, in 1600, Tagungen des Landesmuseums für Vorgeschichte Halle 8, Halle/Saale, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of A. Højen Sørensen, K. Søholm & W. L. Friedrich, Bronzealderens Santorini i antikkens fortællinger', in O. Højris & B. Poulsen (eds.) Antikkens Verden, Aarhus, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of W. Friedrich, J. Heinemeier og A. Højen Sørensen, Et træ med historie, Naturens Verden, vol. 90 no. 1, 2007, 2-11

Research paper thumbnail of W. Friedrich og A. Højen Sørensen, Et Bronzealdermaleri bliver levende, Aktuel Naturvidenskab, 3, 2010, 40-43

Research paper thumbnail of A. Højen Sørensen & W. L. Friedrich, Time Table, in D. A. Warburton (ed.), Time's Up! Dating the Minoan Eruption of Santorini, Aarhus and Athens, 2009 , frontispice

Research paper thumbnail of W. L. Friedrich, A. Højen Sørensen, S. Katsipis, Santorini before the Minoan Eruption: Geological and Archaeological evidence, Presented at: PHYSIS. 14ème rencontre égéenne internationale,  Paris, Institut National d'Histoire de l'Art (INHA), Dec. 11-14 2012

Research paper thumbnail of A half-century of geologic and geothermic investigations in Iceland: The legacy of Kristján Sæmundsson

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 2018

One of the World's premier field geologists, Kristján Saemundsson led immense geological mapping ... more One of the World's premier field geologists, Kristján Saemundsson led immense geological mapping programs and authored or co-authored nearly all geological maps of Iceland during the past half century, including the first modern bedrock and tectonic maps of the whole country. These monumental achievements collectively yield the most inclusive view of an extensional plate boundary anywhere on Earth. When Kristján began his work in 1961, the relation of Iceland to sea-floor spreading was not clear, and plate tectonics had not yet been invented. Kristján resolved key obstacles by demonstrating that the active rifting zones in Iceland had shifted over time and were linked by complex transforms to the mid-ocean spreading ridge, thus making the concept of sea-floor spreading in Iceland acceptable to those previously skeptical. Further, his insights and vast geological and tectonic knowledge on both high-and low-temperature geothermal areas in Iceland yielded a major increase in knowledge of geothermal systems, and probably no one has contributed more than he to Icelandic energy development. Kristján's legacy is comprised by his numerous superb maps on a variety of scales, the high quality papers he produced, the impactful ideas generated that were internationally diffused, and the generations of colleagues and younger people he inspired, mentored, or otherwise positively influenced with his knowledge and generous attitude.

Research paper thumbnail of Santorini, part of the Hellinic arc: age of the earliest volcanism documented by foraminifera

Volcanic dacitic tuffs are interbedded with fossil bearing marine deposits at several places on t... more Volcanic dacitic tuffs are interbedded with fossil bearing marine deposits at several places on the Akrotiri Peninsula on the island of Thera, Santorini (Greece). palaeontological data from these deposits facilitate dating of the earliest volcanism in the region. Two different marine environments can be documented: 1) A littoral to inner neritic palaeoenvironment (wafer depth: 0 25 m) with mainly benthic foraminifera was encountered at Mt. Archan gelos and Mt. "Loumaravi. This observation is supported by the occur rence of beach gravels of volcanic origin ift the fossiliferous deposits at Mt. Archangelos. 2) An upper epibathyal environment {water depth exceeding 100 m) dominated by planktic foraminifera is documented on the caldera wall of Cape Loumaravi. These foraminifera are registered in lenses of marine marl interbedded in the volcanic tuffs. The analysis of foramini(era from the Archangelos-Loumaravi area combined with absolute dates on volcanic material from the Akrotiri Peninsula, show that the marine deposits have an age of maximum 2.0 Ma and minimum 1.6 Ma. The beginning of the volcanism on Santorini predates the marine deposits of the Akrotiri area. Our data, thus, indicate that volcanism on Santorini was initiated during the Plio cene or even earlier.

Research paper thumbnail of Kynlega stór aldin í íslenskum setlögum frá síðtertíer / Unusually large samaras from late Tertiary sediments in Iceland

Research paper thumbnail of Fire in the Sea. The Santorini Volcano: Natural History and the Legend of Atlantis

Earth-Science Reviews, 2002

The paroxysmal ''Minoan'' eruption of the eastern Aegean island of Santorini, some 3600 years ago... more The paroxysmal ''Minoan'' eruption of the eastern Aegean island of Santorini, some 3600 years ago, is justly recognized as one of the most important geological events of human history and prehistory. It has attracted the attention of volcanologists, archaeologists, oceanographers, dendrochronologists, and ice core chemists who have pored over the various records of the eruption, and stimulated a rich debate on the timing, nature, and climatic, environmental and societal consequences of the eruption. The published literature includes popularised accounts of the Minoan eruption and the Atlantis legend, the 1879 classic ''Santorin et ses eruptions'' by Ferdinand Fouqué (and also recently translated by Alexander McBirney), the multiple volumes of the ''Thera and the Agean World'' symposia, Manning's ''Test of time'' focusing on the relative and absolute chronology of the eruption, and a new Geological Society of London Memoir which places the Minoan eruption within the context of a much longer and record of violently explosive volcanism. ''Fire in the Sea'' is a very worthy addition to this wide-ranging body of work, and occupies a unique niche within it.

Research paper thumbnail of Quaternary pyroclastics from Santorini/Greece and their significance for the Mediterranean palaeoclimate

Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark, 1977

Radiocarbon data from four different horizons of the Santorini volcanic pile show that an unusual... more Radiocarbon data from four different horizons of the Santorini volcanic pile show that an unusually long period of volcanic inactivity of about 15,000 yr preceded the late-Minoan outburst. Three different piant-bearing palaeosols of about 37,000 yr, 18,000 yr and 13,000 yr B.P. can be correlated with interstadials in eastern Macedonia, deep-sea cores from the Mediterranean and interstadials from the northern hemisphere. Fossil plants from the Fira palaeosol, Santorini (- 37,000 yr B.P.) indicate that the climatic conditions at that time were nearly the same as at present. A similar flora with a correspon­ding age of about 37,000 yr B.P. also existed on Lipari/Eolian islands, suggesting that this warm period in the Weichselian was widely developed in the Mediterranean area.

Research paper thumbnail of Metamorphoses and hybridity in the wall-paintings at Akrotiri, Thera

Popular Religion and Ritual in Prehistoric and Ancient Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Santorini Eruption Radiocarbon dated to 1613 ± 13 BC

Research paper thumbnail of Dating of the Santorini eruption. Reply

Discussion sur l'article de Hammer C.U., Clausen H.B., Friedrich W.L. et Tauber H. Nature, 19... more Discussion sur l'article de Hammer C.U., Clausen H.B., Friedrich W.L. et Tauber H. Nature, 1987, vol. 328, 517-519

Research paper thumbnail of Kynlega stór aldin úr síðtertíerum setlögum á Íslandi / Unusually large samaras from late Miocene sediments in Iceland

Research paper thumbnail of The olive branch chronology stands irrespective of tree-ring counting

Antiquity, 2014

Cherubini et al. (above) question the reliability of identifying annual growth increments in oliv... more Cherubini et al. (above) question the reliability of identifying annual growth increments in olive trees, and therefore voice caution against the result of the wiggle-match of the four sections of a branch of an olive tree to the 14C calibration curve. Friedrich et al. (2006) were well aware of the problematic density structure of olive trees, and therefore assigned rather wide error margins of up to 50 per cent to the ring count. This still resulted in a late seventeenth century BC youngest date for the modelled age range of the outermost section of wood (95.4% probability). One can even remove any constraint from ring counting altogether and model the four radial sections as a simple ordered sequence, in which only the relative position is used as prior information, in other words that outer sections are younger than inner ones in a radial section.

Research paper thumbnail of Radiocarbon dates of Santorini volcanics

Research paper thumbnail of Paleoenvironmental features from Holocene stromatolite xenoliths from the Santorini caldera, Aegean Sea

Research paper thumbnail of Ilden i havet: Santorini-vulkanens naturhistorie og Atlantis-myten

Research paper thumbnail of Time's Up!: Dating the Minoan Eruption of Santorini: Acts of the Minoan Eruption Chronology Workshop, Sandbjerg November 2007, Initiated by Jan Heinemeier & Walter L. Friedrich

In we published a radiocarbon dating, 1613 bc, for the Minoan eruption on Santorini with an unpar... more In we published a radiocarbon dating, 1613 bc, for the Minoan eruption on Santorini with an unparalleled precision of ±13 calendar years. 1 It was based on the unique find in the caldera wall of Santorini of a branch of an olive tree that had been buried and preserved in an upright, life, position by the pumice of the eruption. 72 tree rings were identified by X-ray tomography, and the high precision was achieved by wiggle matching the 14 C results of the time series of four contiguous sections of tree rings to the radiocarbon calibration curve. Since the trees were growing at an altitude of 150 m above sea level and at a distance of more than 2.5 km from the active volcanic zone on Santorini, it is unlikely that the radiocarbon values published in 2006 could have been affected by old CO 2. Because of the clear association of the tree and its outermost growth ring with the geological/archaeological event of the eruption, the date represents the best combination of directness and precision in any attempt so far of a science based chronology of the Minoan eruption. While in broad agreement with other science dating attempts, there are some who claim that it is completely irreconcilable with the traditional archaeological dates of the late 16 th century bc, or later, based on cultural linkage (pottery typology) and Egyptian Chronology. To resolve the conflict, we need to take a careful look at the implicit and explicit underlying assumptions in the two methods. As we do not possess the expertise to evaluate the results of the archaeological approach, this paper will deal with the details of the find of the olive branch and its radiocarbon dating by wiggle matching as well as a balanced assessment of the possible sources of error.

Research paper thumbnail of Tertiåre Pflanzen im Basalt von Island

Medd. Dansk Geol. Foren, 1968

... 3). Aus Neuseeland (EJ SEARLE, 1964; JA BARTRUM, 1941), Nordamerika (HT STEARNS, 1928; EC ALF... more ... 3). Aus Neuseeland (EJ SEARLE, 1964; JA BARTRUM, 1941), Nordamerika (HT STEARNS, 1928; EC ALFORD, 1937; RR SHROCK, 1948; D ... 133) fand an der Fundstelle Grylufoss bei Trollatunga/NW-Island einen Hohlraum im Basalt mit einem verkohl-ten Baumstamm darin. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Stratigrafi i et vulkansk område - Santorin som eksempel

The application of relative and absolute dating methods in a volcanic area is demonstrated on San... more The application of relative and absolute dating methods in a volcanic area is demonstrated on Santorini. Pyroclastics from the volcanic island Santorini in Greece are valuable marker beds for the correlation of marine and terrestrial sediments in the Mediterranean. Tephrochronology based upon absolute dated ash layers from Santorini, is commonly used in deepsea studies, underlining the importance of Santorini in regional and global stratigraphy.

Research paper thumbnail of Aragonite stromatolitic buildups from Santorini (Aegean Sea, Greece): Geochemical and palaeontological constraints of the caldera palaeoenvironment prior to the Minoan eruption ( ca 3600 yr  bp )

Sedimentology, 2013

Carbonate platform models, sea level changes and extreme climatic events during the Paleocene-Ear... more Carbonate platform models, sea level changes and extreme climatic events during the Paleocene-Early Eocene greenhouse interval: a basin-platform-coastal plain transect across the southern Pyrenean Basin

Research paper thumbnail of Santorini: Luminescence dating of a volcanic province using quartz?

Quaternary Science Reviews, 2001

We have investigated the application of luminescence dating to the palaeosol underlying the Cape ... more We have investigated the application of luminescence dating to the palaeosol underlying the Cape Riva ignimbrite from the volcanic island of Santorini (36.403N, 25.403E) in the Aegean Sea. The history of volcanism in this area is of intrinsic interest, and is also of importance to archaeology in the eastern Mediterranean * a #ourishing late Bronze Age settlement was buried under the volcanic products of the Minoan Eruption (1640 BC). Volcanic provinces are notoriously di$cult to date using luminescence techniques, because volcanic feldspars almost invariably show anomalous fading (which can lead to age underestimates of more than 50%). Quartz does not show anomalous fading, but unfortunately it is rare or non-existent in volcanic sediments, and so it is usually not considered as a potential chronometer. We have studied the luminescence characteristics of material extracted from the Cape Riva palaeosol, with good independent age control. All samples contain detectable quartz, but usually (0.01% of the bulk deposit; the quartz is identi"ed primarily by the ability to sensitize the characteristic 1103C TL peak, and by the absence of signi"cant regenerated response to intense infra-red illumination from an IR laser. It may be that this quartz is of aeolian origin, perhaps from North Africa or from local sources. If the former, quartz is only accumulated during the period of soil development. Blue-light (470 nm) stimulated luminescence signal levels are highly variable, and despite chemical and physical concentration, some aliquots show no signi"cant natural luminescence or laboratory dose-response. The single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol has been used to estimate the equivalent dose in the remainder. Despite our identi"cation of the luminescent material as quartz, all aliquots grossly underestimate the known age, by 90% on average.

Research paper thumbnail of Dating of the Santorini eruption

Research paper thumbnail of New light on the Ship Fresco from Late Bronze Age Thera

Praehistorische Zeitschrift, 2010