Archaeologists in Turkey have uncovered the 3,600-year-old skeleton of a man and his dog, both victims of the devastating Santorini volcano eruption. Discovered in the ancient Greek region of Ionia near Smyrna, this find provides groundbreaking evidence of the eruption's far-reaching destruction. The discovery was made in 2021, shedding new light on the impact of the ancient disaster.

A Cataclysmic Event

The eruption of Thera—modern-day Santorini—around 1,646 BC ranks among the most powerful volcanic events in history. It is even believed to have inspired the legend of Atlantis. While scientists previously thought the primary impact on Ionia was volcanic ash fallout, this discovery confirms that tsunamis triggered by the eruption reached as far as present-day Turkey, causing widespread devastation.

The Power of the Tsunamis

Excavations at Çeşme-Bağlararası, a Late Bronze Age site on Turkey’s western coast, reveal the immense force of these tsunamis. The site contains evidence of multiple waves that left behind layers of sediment, volcanic ash, and destruction, mirroring the disaster’s impact on Crete, where the Minoan civilization collapsed.

Radiocarbon dating of tsunami deposits suggests the eruption likely occurred no earlier than 1612 BC, slightly later than previously estimated. This research, led by archaeologist Vasıf Şahoğlu of the University of Ankara, offers new insight into the timeline and impact of the disaster.

First Confirmed Victims of the Eruption

Remarkably, this is the first time human remains directly linked to the Thera eruption have been discovered. The excavation revealed the skeleton of a young man, buried beneath tsunami debris, along with his dog. His remains were found beneath collapsed fortification walls, surrounded by large stones and layers of sediment deposited by the waves.

Evidence of rescue efforts also emerged, with pits dug into the tsunami deposits, possibly in an attempt to retrieve victims. However, the young man’s remains lay too deep to be recovered at the time, leaving him entombed beneath the rubble for millennia.

The Legacy of Ionia

Ionia, an ancient Greek region along the western coast of Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), was home to a thriving network of city-states. These settlements, including Phocaea, Miletus, and the islands of Chios and Samos, played a crucial role in Greek and Persian history.

According to Greek tradition, Ionia was settled by Greek colonists led by Neleus and Androclus, sons of the last Athenian king, Codrus. The Ionian states were distinguished by their use of Eastern Greek and their lasting cultural and political influence.

The discovery of these tsunami victims rewrites what we know about the reach and devastation of the Santorini eruption. The evidence not only confirms that massive waves struck Ionia but also offers a poignant glimpse into the lives lost in one of history’s most significant natural disasters. This groundbreaking study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, deepens our understanding of the event’s catastrophic aftermath and its impact on ancient civilizations.