Egyptian Cities Buried by Ancient Volcanic Eruption
Monday, April 9, 2007
Keywords: volcanology, lava and ash sourcing, Santorini, Mediterranean
Summary: Egyptian archaeologists have found evidence of lava on the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula that dates to about 1500 BCE, lending support to historical accounts of a volcanic eruption in the Mediterranean Sea that covered Egyptian settlements. Zahi Hawass claims that the lava and ash originated on the volcanic island of Santorini in the Mediterranean, but others suggest that ocean currents carried the material there.
Above image: Excavating on the Sinai Peninsula near the Suez Canal. Credit: Sandy Petrykowski.
Excerpt from National Geographic:
Ancient Egypt Cities Leveled by Massive Volcano
By Dan Morrison
Egyptian archaeologists today announced that they have unearthed traces of solidified lava on the northern coast of Sinai that date to around 1500 B.C. -- supporting accounts that ancient Egyptian settlements were buried by a massive volcanic eruption in the Mediterranean, they say.
The archaeological team, led by Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud of Egypt's Supreme Council for Antiquities, found houses, military structures, and tombs encased in ash, along with fragments of pumice, near the ancient Egyptian fortress of Tharo, on the Horus military road. Tharo is located close to El Qantara, where the Nile Delta meets the Sinai peninsula
According to Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the council, the lava and ash hail from Santorini, an eastern Mediterranean volcano that has been linked to the myth of Atlantis.
The new find seems to confirm accounts from ancient artwork and documents that recount the destruction of coastal cities in Egypt and Palestine during the 15th dynasty (1650-1550 B.C.), when foreigners known as the Hyksos ruled Egypt.
The scientists suggest that trade winds may have carried a blizzard of ash to Egypt from Santorini, located about 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) from Tharo. . .
To read the rest of the article, please visit the National Geographic website:
Blog Author: Ellery Frahm