How do archaeologists date the history of the Minoans?
Minoan chronology is a framework of dates used to divide the history of the Minoan civilization using two main relative systems based on pottery styles and architectural phases of palaces. Establishing an absolute chronology remains challenging because different dating methods, such as carbon dating and Egyptian synchronisms, produce conflicting results. Sir Arthur Evans originally devised the Cretan Bronze Age pottery classification system, which divides finds into Early, Middle, and Late Minoan periods.
What we know
- Two systems of relative chronology are used for the Minoans, based respectively on sequences of pottery styles and the architectural phases of palaces. [2]
- Sir Arthur Evans devised the Minoan chronology scheme by dividing Cretan Bronze Age pottery finds into Early, Middle, and Late Minoan main periods. [5]
- The first Minoan palaces were constructed around 1900 BC, were destroyed by earthquakes around 1700 BC, and were subsequently rebuilt on a grander scale. [4]
- Pots containing oils and ointments exported from Crete in the 18th century BC have been found throughout the Aegean, Cyprus, Syria, and Egypt. [3]
Still open
- Establishing an absolute chronology has proved difficult because carbon dating places the eruption of Thera around 1600 BC while Egyptian synchronisms place it roughly a century later.
Where to go next
- how we knowWhat did Minoan pottery styles reveal?
- how it workedWhat was the function of Minoan palaces?
- compared withHow does Helladic chronology compare to Minoan dating?
- whoWho was Sir Arthur Evans?
- what caused itWhat caused the destruction of the Minoan palaces?
- an unexpected connectionHow does Egyptian history help date Minoan pottery?Certain Minoan pottery can be dated with reasonable precision by reference to Egyptian artifacts whose own absolute dates are much more certain.
Sources
- [1]Minoan chronology (Wikidata Q3698592) · CC0 1.0
- [2]Minoan chronology · CC BY-SA 4.0
- [3]Minoan pottery · CC BY-SA 4.0
- [4]Minoan palaces · CC BY-SA 4.0
- [5]Helladic chronology · CC BY-SA 4.0