The Mediterranean World Environnement and History © 2003 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits réservés Geological factors part in the Minoan society vulnerability process (Crete-Greece) G. Poursoulis 1. Introduction 2. Presentation of the historical situation The historical data concerning various Minoan sites The part of the geological factors in the Minoan like palaces as well as private houses on the whole society’s vulnerability process is one subject of my Cretish territory (Poursoulis, 1999) and the multi-disciplinary research project. From a long time interpretations of the economical Linear B whritings I am interested by the Minoan society’s evolution (Bennet, 1985, 1990; Duhoux, 1976; Duhoux and through the question of the minoan palaces Morpurgo-Davis, 1985) found in Knossos and also on destruction. The results I obtained until now in the Greek sites like Mycenae, Pylos and so on, led me analysing the Cretish seismicity, the architectural to consider that changes happened in the Minoan remains of numerous archaeological sites and the society. The result of these changes was a complete human comportment in seismic areas led me to think centralisation of the economical and political powers in a unique palatial structure: that of Knossos after that the historical complex situation I found in Crete destruction of the three other palaces found until now during the Bronze Age, was connected with the (Table 1). evolution of the Minoan society, generated by human Effectively, the continuous economical expansion of actions more than by natural phenomena. It appears the Minoan society as well as the regular increase of that, at a particular moment of its history, the minoan population, visible by the step up of settlements on the society, until then prosperous on the national scale whole island from 3000 to 1500 BC (Fig. 1a,b), and influencial on the international one, supported combined with an important developement of such a weakening that it offered to the Mycenaeans the external exchanges at this same date, involved that it possibility to supersede the Minoans inside Crete, by probably became necessary to manage more narrowly the agricultural and artisanal productions, firstly for taking the political power, as well as on the scale of 25 the satisfaction of the internal consummation needs in economical exchanges with all the Méditeranean area. continuous augmentation and secondly to answer to So, to understand the reasons of this weakening, we the external demand also in continuous increase must take into account all the different factors that The result of this situation visibly was a complete had able to play a part in the process, which had put centralisation of the economical and political powers, the Minoan society in a vulnerable state. Generally, a which led to put out of use the three palaces of Malia, Phaistos and Zakros and let the palace of Knossos historical situation was more the result of numerous managing alone the economy of the whole island. This combination of circumstances, than the effect of a ultra-centralised system which seems to had worked unique factor. Among all the factors we could until 1300 BC results however with the hold of power consider, geological events represent the first stage of by the Mycenaeans at this date and further to the our research. decline of the Minoan civilisation. The Mediterranean Instability from Yesterday to Today/L’instabilité méditerranéenne d’hier à aujourd’hui Table 1 Chronological table for Bronze Age period in Crete Dates (BC) Phases Important events for the most known sites 7000–6500 Neolithic Aceramic First settings at Knossos 6500–5700 Old Neolithic First occupation at Palaikastro and Phaestos, numerous settlements in caves at Epano Archanes First occupation in west Crete, especially in caves around Chania 5700–4700 Middle Neolithic 4700–3250 Last Neolithic First occupation on Lassithi plain 3250–2500 Old Minoan I First occupation at Kato Zakros, Gournia 2500–2300 Old Minoan II First occupation at Myrtos Pyrgos and Phournou Korifi 2300–2100 Old Minoan III First occupation at Malia, Vassiliki and Tylissos 2100–1900 Middle Minoan IA Beginning of exchanges with the east Mediterranean area Construction of the palaces at Phaestos, Malia and Knossos Multiplication of settlements on the whole island of Crete. 1900–1800 Middle Minoan IB 1800–1700 Middle Minoan II 1630–1628 Date of Thera’s eruption after the physico-chemical analyses 1700–1600 Middle Minoan III Transformation of the palatial and some ordinary buildings to use the new symmetrical plan divided in dynamic, seismo- resistant blocs. Construction of the palace at Kato Zakros; Linear A script used at Knossos 1600–1500 Last Minoan IA Transformations in the palace of Kato Zakros 1500 Date of Thera’s eruption after the pottery found at Akrotiri 1500–1450 Last Minoan IB Around 1450 BC, the three palaces of Malia, Phaestos and Zakros are set on fire and abandoned 26 The occupation of Crete was at its highest level around 1500 BC Multiplication of the settlements on the whole occupied sites, with an important concentration around Knossos 1450–1400 Last Minoan II Phase very strongly associated with the LMIB period and could constitute only one phase with it 1400– 1350 Last Minoan IIIA1 Burning of the east part of “Maison E” at Malia 1350– 1300 Last Minoan IIIA2 Appearance of the Linear B script on mud shelves, burning at Knossos Geological factors part in the Minoan society vulnerability process (Crete-Greece) Table 1 Chronological table for Bronze Age period in Crete Dates (BC) Phases Important events for the most known sites 1300–1200 Last Minoan IIIB Some badly constructed walls are located at Phaestos. Plan of Mycenaean type at Malia Palace’s North Court location Bad constructions on the east part of the “Maison E” at Malia Decrease of the occupied settlements on the whole territory, except at Epano Archanes where the occupation continues. The occupation continues in the east part of the palace of Knossos, after the burning and the appearance of the Mycenaeans in Crete 1200–1050 Last Minoen IIIC Period of crisis, collapse of occupation, Knossos continues; but it is the end of its power Appearance of a first cremation at Malia in “Maison E” (foreign element of Mycenaean origin) [New Dates after “The Aegean Civilisations” by R. Treuil et al. (1989), in P.U.F. Nouvelle Clio (Éd.)]. The date of Mycenaeans intervention in Crete is consider that the Mycenaeans intervention would discussed by the specialists of Minoan archaeology. This rather be situated near 1300 BC. Several arguments date is estimated on the base of Linear B tablets one, came to support this assumption. tablets found in the palace of Knossos and transcribing Mycenaean Greek. Some archaeologists want to consider these tablets contemporaneous with the palaces 2.1. The decreased number of occupied destruction localised in 1450 BC and by this way render settlements the Mycenaeans responsible for these destructions. Other archaeologists on the contrary (Palmer, 1969, p. 34; The war conflicts, generally, let remarkable traces in the Popham, 1970) gave these tablets a latest date, near territory’s occupation. An important decrease of the 1300–1250 BC, based on their analysis on the shapes and occupied settlements number could be a sign of conflict. decorations of ceramics found in the last state of Knossos It could represent an increase in mortality, resulting to palace, the same one in which were found the tablets. the battles, but also to the starvations generated by the My analysis of numerous Minoan settlements impossibility to produce sufficent quantities of the evolution on the whole Cretish territory led me to foodstuffs necessary to the day needs of the population. StavrosGh A. Ioannis Koumarès O A. Triada Gh A. Onouphrios Chordaki Aphrata Kambani Akrotiri T Gramvousa ChaniaGh Maleme HT GoA. Marina Galatas O A. Pelagia Modi 27 NerokourosH H Kalyviani Vrysès Gh PerivoliaGo O2 Myronikitas Panormos Achladia Kokkino Chorio H T HItanos O Drapania Myloniana Stavromenos Varypetro Drapanos .Vai Alikianos H2 Platanos Debla Stylos Melidoni O3Héraklion HAmnissos Chani Ndalia Sissi Skourachlada Gavalochori Agelliana H T2 S Pigi Samonas Perama Go Marathos Kokkini Chani Chersonissos SItanos/Eileithia Malia H O T2Gazi Gouvès Platyvola PlatanièsH M. Arsani Viran Episkopi Prasan K. Vatheia H2 Chalepa Gh O H2 O Elaia GtSkotino Vrachasi Asphardon Therisos Rethymnon Kyani Akti Chamalevri Choumeri O Anopoli Koxari Elounda T Topolia Adele O Kalamas Kavrochori Gournès Gt A. Ioannis Voritsi Phouni H3Palaikastro Melidoni Pigi H5 Knossos O Kalo Chorio HSitia O Maroulas Tylissos Giophyrakia E. Vatheia Mochos T S H OT2 AgiaCH Photia Modi Petsopha Néa Roumata Mesi Axos Goniès H T T Moni Phoinikia OAïtania Choumeriakos Dramia Sklavokampos H2 Prasiès Anogia H2 Episkopi Smari Krasi HPiskokephalo A. PelagiaO HAthanatoi Skopi H Voutès H H2 Mochlos Kato Episkopi Sitanos Korphos H H Kera H .Chamaizi H Armeni Stavrakia Youktas Varvaron T Achladia H Myrthios Apostoloi Agios Nikolaos Pseira CT Myrsini ExoT Mouliana Zou SAzokeramos Pyrgos Selli H8E. Archanès H H Krousonas Kounavoi Samba HKastelli Pinakiano Tourloti H T H2 A. Antonios Veni Monastiri H CO2 M. Vidiani H3 Tzermiado T M. MoulianaRiza Sphakia Voloniès H A. Myronas Zophori O H2 M. Kroustallenia H Maronia .Traostalos Thronos/Sybrita A. Paraskiès Kato Metochi O H5 Sphaka Koumi O Vathypetro O OMessa lassithi H2TEpano Zakros Chalara Vistagi Siva Thrapsano T O A. Kostandinos Kritsa Lastro E. KriaH HEpano Episkopi T Astritsi Voni Mathia Plati H H6 Praisos AdromyloiH T Kato Zakros Missyrigia Patsos Meronas Kyparissos A. Paraskevi H H4 T A. Georgios O H O Pyrgos Choudetsi A. Charalambos T Kavousi Plati Tourtouloi H OH H3 Amari Monastiraki O Ideon Andron H Psychro Avrakontes Katharo Pyrgos H2 Kaminaki O H Messonisia Elenès Choumeri H4 H3 PachyammosT Zakathos Mixorouma O Vizari Partheni O OT Kalo Chorio Chandra H Nipiditos Etia Ziros O Zinda Arkalochori H2 O Gournia Xerokambos Vrisinas Koudoumalia H Stavrochori Kamarès Arkadi M.