The
Archaeology of Geological Catastrophes. Edited by J.W. McGuire, D.R.
Griffiths and P. Hancock
The Geological Society London: 2000; 417
pages; 28 plates 200+ illustrations. ISBN 1-86239-062-2.
Volcanoes, earthquakes
and glaciers are three of the most exciting aspects of geology, I always
tend to think. Having two of these presented in relation to past human
societies, the impacts they had on those societies and the contemporary
records made of the events witnessed is surely a winning combination.
Volcanoes are of particular significance in archaeological research,
as they often provide rapid encapsulation of whole landscapes, both
physical and cultural, sometimes even individuals as at Pompeii. In
quiescent periods, the flanks and environs of volcanoes often present
attractive ecosystems for human habitation and settlement, further increasing
their potential to preserve snapshots, in some cases repeated snapshots,
like frames from a shaky Logie Baird TV camera, of everyday human life,
frozen in time, occasionally even solidified in rock, awaiting the archaeologists'
trowel to reveal. Both earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have the power
to disrupt human economic and domestic society beyond the point of no
return. We may then witness through detailed archaeological excavation
the responses of different societies to these devastating events.
Alternatively, we
can view the same events with more of a geological hat on. A huge amount
of archaeological research, especially in the Mediterranean region,
has built up a detailed record of human events, power struggles and
political intrigues over at least the last 3,000 years. These events
are punctuated with volcanic eruptions which might wipe out cities,
earthquakes with the power to rase the strongest and boldest temples
or palaces to the ground, and tsunami waves higher then the masts of
ships from the most powerful of nations. Here we may find detailed documentation
of the nature, order and magnitude of events preserved in text, or requiring
a little more hard work, the direct results of these events buried in
the collapsed structures of the unlucky locals. These are often an invaluable
resource for geologists attempting to provide rates and timescales for
neotectonic events, particularly important in assessing seismic and
volcanic hazards.
The 424 pages of this volume, "The archaeology of geological
catastrophes" published in 2000 by the Geological Society as Special
Publication no. 171, represent a collection of 28 individual papers
covering a wide range of examples and approaches to the study of the
archaeological evidence relating to catastrophic geological events.
It is not a synthesised appraisal of the effect of dramatic geological
events on human populations, nor a complete summary of the means by
which archaeological data can be used to date geological phenomena.
It does, though, provide insight to both these angles, besides illustrating
the ways in which geological and archaeological data can be combined
to provide a better understanding of past events than either discipline
could achieve in isolation. High quality figures, photographs and illustrations
(including a significant number in colour) help to bring to life the
locations and events discussed.
Several key events and locations stand out as having formed the
basis for a number of studies. These include the dramatic eruption of
Satorini/Thera in Minoan Greece (5 papers), the archaeology and volcanic
geology of Vesuvius (4 papers), and earthquakes in ancient Greece and
Turkey (4 papers). Other Mediterranean examples discuss Etna and Sicily,
and the advent of archaeoseismology as an area for study. We are offered
three papers concerning archaeological evidence from the New World (Central
America and Alaska) and one from Papua New Guinea, besides textual evidence
from Scotland (affected by Icelandic eruptions), volcanic events in
historic Germany and contemporary accounts of earthquakes in ancient
Greece. Studies with more of a geological focus include a very detailed
survey of multiple-vent oceanic island volcanoes using historical and
archaeological evidence, the study of fault patterns on a small Greek
Island, seismic and volcanic hazards in Yemen and volcanic soils in
archaeology. Interspersed with theses papers are additional vignettes
concerning the use of volcanic products in antiquity, volcanoclastic
materials in concrete, the raw material selection criteria for Mesoamerican
Olmec culture basalt statues, and appropriately concluding the volume
"The geological origins of the oracle at Delphi, Greece".
I have very much enjoyed dipping in to this volume. I have read
some papers in detail, while others I have perused the photographs and
illustrations. The wide variety of approach, style and content is highly
appealing. I think the editors have managed to produce something which
is more than merely an interesting collection of papers, but will help
stimulate an increasing degree of collaboration and integration between
geological and archaeological research. This volume will therefore be
of significant interest to geologists, particularly in the areas of
tectonics and vulcanology, archaeologists with or without classical
or Mediterranean interests, and of course all geoarchaeologists. Have
a look - I find it difficult to imagine anyone who would not find something
engaging and absorbing here.
Ed Rhodes
Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art,
University of Oxford
Review Submitted: November 2002
The views expressed in this review are not
necessarily those of the Society or the Reviews Editor.
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