Volcano 'destroyed cities'
2007-04-03 07:11
Qantara East - Egypt's chief
archaeologist said on Monday scientists had found traces of
volcanic lava in Sinai dating from about 1500 BC, the time of a
massive eruption on the Greek island of Santorini.
Zahi Hawass of the Supreme Antiquities Council said the lava
must have come from Santorini and that the discovery indicated
that the volcano was responsible for the destruction of several
cities on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt and the Levant.
He did not name the cities but said that ancient texts and
inscriptions referred to their destruction.
An Egyptian archaeological mission found the lava at the
ancient fortress of Tharo near what is now the east bank of the
Suez Canal.
Tharo was part of a system to defend Egypt from
attacks by its enemies to the east.
Tharo is about 900km from Santorini and Hawass
did not say how lava could reach so far. The main damage far
from volcanoes is through volcanic ash, which blocks out the sun
and can disrupt weather patterns for years.
Hawass linked the destruction to a period of Egyptian
history known as the Hyksos era, which ended in about 1570 BC.
Although the effects of the Santorini eruption are visible
throughout the region, scientists have never been able to fix
the exact date. Estimates vary from 1650 to 1500 BC.
Hawass told reporters that the eruption had caused
destruction as far away as Saudi Arabia but gave no details.
Archaeologists showed reporters some samples of the lava, which
was white and aerated, and Hawass said they had 20 pieces.