Bronze Age World

Citation metadata

Type: review article
Publication: Antiquity, vol. 98, no. 397, 260–263
Peer reviewed: Yes

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causal hypothesis Eastern Mediterranean Earthquake-Storm Collapse
contradicts · challenges model
Provides evidence or reasoning against Eastern Mediterranean Earthquake-Storm Collapse.
claim Palatial administrations disappeared across mainland Greece through a staggered sequence of destructions, abandonments and political reorganization.
Evidence confidence: high
informs · establishes
Supports the claim: Palatial administrations disappeared across mainland Greece through a staggered sequence of destructions, abandonments and political reorganization.
claim A destruction occurred at the palace centre before the terminal destruction of several better-known Mycenaean palaces.
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · establishes
Supports the claim: A destruction occurred at the palace centre before the terminal destruction of several better-known Mycenaean palaces.
claim Iklaina ceased to function as an independent centre before the final destruction at Pylos, possibly through destruction or annexation.
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · establishes
Supports the claim: Iklaina ceased to function as an independent centre before the final destruction at Pylos, possibly through destruction or annexation.
claim The palace at Mycenae was destroyed, but the date is broader and less synchronized than a single 1200 BCE horizon suggests.
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · establishes
Supports the claim: The palace at Mycenae was destroyed, but the date is broader and less synchronized than a single 1200 BCE horizon suggests.
claim A major fire ended the palatial phase at Tiryns; warfare or deliberate arson is plausible but not certain.
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · establishes
Supports the claim: A major fire ended the palatial phase at Tiryns; warfare or deliberate arson is plausible but not certain.
claim The final palatial destruction at Thebes belonged to a sequence that was not necessarily simultaneous with Pylos or all Argolid centres.
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · establishes
Supports the claim: The final palatial destruction at Thebes belonged to a sequence that was not necessarily simultaneous with Pylos or all Argolid centres.
claim Gla was burned and abandoned before or around the terminal palatial transformations.
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · establishes
Supports the claim: Gla was burned and abandoned before or around the terminal palatial transformations.
claim Pylos was violently destroyed, but a revised synchronization places the final palace later than the standard circa-1200 date.
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · establishes
Supports the claim: Pylos was violently destroyed, but a revised synchronization places the final palace later than the standard circa-1200 date.
chronology model Conventional c.1200 BCE Pylos chronology
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · provides or supports date model
Supports or discusses the chronology model Conventional c.1200 BCE Pylos chronology.
chronology model Revised LH IIIC Early Pylos chronology
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · provides or supports date model
Supports or discusses the chronology model Revised LH IIIC Early Pylos chronology.
event Dissolution of the Mycenaean Palatial Administrative System
Evidence confidence: high
informs · reviews · pp. 260–263
Source relationship recorded for Dissolution of the Mycenaean Palatial Administrative System.
event Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 261
Source relationship recorded for Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns.
event Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 262
Source relationship recorded for Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina.
event Destruction at Ayios Vasileios
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · pp. 262–263
Source relationship recorded for Destruction at Ayios Vasileios.
event Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 262
Source relationship recorded for Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae.
date assertion Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina — date assertion
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 262
date assertion Destruction at Ayios Vasileios — date assertion
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · pp. 262–263
date assertion Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae — date assertion
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 262
date assertion Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns — date assertion
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 261
date assertion Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes — date assertion
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · pp. 261–263
date assertion Burning and Abandonment at Gla — date assertion
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 261
date assertion Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos — date assertion
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 262
date assertion Dissolution of the Mycenaean Palatial Administrative System — date assertion
Evidence confidence: high
informs · reviews · pp. 260–263
event Burning and Abandonment at Gla
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 261
Source relationship recorded for Burning and Abandonment at Gla.
event Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · pp. 261–263
Source relationship recorded for Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes.
event Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos
Evidence confidence: moderate
informs · reviews · p. 262
Source relationship recorded for Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos.
claim The Late Bronze Age transition was regionally asynchronous: Mycenaean palaces, the Hittite centre, Ugarit, Cyprus, Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia and European regions changed on diff…
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports
Supports the claim: The Late Bronze Age transition was regionally asynchronous: Mycenaean palaces, the Hittite centre, Ugarit, Cyprus, Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia and European regions changed on different schedules.
claim Earthquakes may explain particular destruction episodes, but the broad earthquake-storm model has weak overall fit after chronology and destruction claims are re-audited.
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports
Supports the claim: Earthquakes may explain particular destruction episodes, but the broad earthquake-storm model has weak overall fit after chronology and destruction claims are re-audited.
claim There was no single, securely demonstrated, synchronous destruction horizon spanning the entire eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BCE.
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports
Supports the claim: There was no single, securely demonstrated, synchronous destruction horizon spanning the entire eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BCE.
claim The current Hekla 3 range of 1100 ±50 BCE is too late to serve as the initiating cause of most palatial destructions conventionally placed around or before 1200 BCE.
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports
Supports the claim: The current Hekla 3 range of 1100 ±50 BCE is too late to serve as the initiating cause of most palatial destructions conventionally placed around or before 1200 BCE.
property assignment Mycenaean Palatial System — underwent — Administrative Collapse
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
Palatial administration and Linear B bureaucratic systems ceased at different centres during the late thirteenth and twelfth centuries BCE.
property assignment Destruction at Ayios Vasileios — is a — Destruction Horizon
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports assignment
Destruction at Ayios Vasileios is represented as a destruction-related archaeological event; cause and synchronism are modeled separately.
property assignment Destruction at Ayios Vasileios — has research status — Cause Unknown
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
The event is better established than a single definitive cause or attacker identity.
property assignment Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina — is a — Destruction Horizon
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports assignment
Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina is represented as a destruction-related archaeological event; cause and synchronism are modeled separately.
property assignment Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina — has research status — Cause Unknown
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
The event is better established than a single definitive cause or attacker identity.
property assignment Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae — is a — Destruction Horizon
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports assignment
Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae is represented as a destruction-related archaeological event; cause and synchronism are modeled separately.
property assignment Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae — has research status — Cause Unknown
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
The event is better established than a single definitive cause or attacker identity.
property assignment Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns — is a — Destruction Horizon
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports assignment
Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns is represented as a destruction-related archaeological event; cause and synchronism are modeled separately.
property assignment Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns — has research status — Cause Unknown
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
The event is better established than a single definitive cause or attacker identity.
property assignment Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes — is a — Destruction Horizon
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports assignment
Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes is represented as a destruction-related archaeological event; cause and synchronism are modeled separately.
property assignment Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes — has research status — Cause Unknown
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
The event is better established than a single definitive cause or attacker identity.
property assignment Burning and Abandonment at Gla — is a — Destruction Horizon
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports assignment
Burning and Abandonment at Gla is represented as a destruction-related archaeological event; cause and synchronism are modeled separately.
property assignment Burning and Abandonment at Gla — has research status — Cause Unknown
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
The event is better established than a single definitive cause or attacker identity.
property assignment Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos — is a — Destruction Horizon
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports assignment
Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos is represented as a destruction-related archaeological event; cause and synchronism are modeled separately.
property assignment Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos — has research status — Cause Unknown
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
The event is better established than a single definitive cause or attacker identity.
property assignment Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos — has research status — Chronology Disputed
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
The date materially depends on competing chronological, ceramic, textual, or archaeological models.
property assignment Ramesses III’s Year 8 Conflicts Recorded at Medinet Habu — has research status — Chronology Disputed
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
The date materially depends on competing chronological, ceramic, textual, or archaeological models.
property assignment Of 153 proposed destruction episodes around 1200 BCE audited by Millek, 94 (61%) were classified as misdated, assumed, or repeated through unsupported citation chains. — has property — Historiographic Reassessment
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
This claim revises or audits a conventional collapse narrative using explicit chronological and evidential reassessment.
property assignment There was no single, securely demonstrated, synchronous destruction horizon spanning the entire eastern Mediterranean around 1200 BCE. — has property — Historiographic Reassessment
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
This claim revises or audits a conventional collapse narrative using explicit chronological and evidential reassessment.
property assignment The Late Bronze Age transition was regionally asynchronous: Mycenaean palaces, the Hittite centre, Ugarit, Cyprus, Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia and European regions changed on diff… — has property — Historiographic Reassessment
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports assignment
This claim revises or audits a conventional collapse narrative using explicit chronological and evidential reassessment.
relationship Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae — contributed to — Dissolution of the Mycenaean Palatial Administrative System
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports causal relationship
The loss of major palace centres contributed to the dissolution of regional palatial administration, but the process was staggered.
entity Ayios Vasileios
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports entity record
Supports the existence, description, classification, or historical context of Ayios Vasileios.
entity Pylos
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports entity record
Supports the existence, description, classification, or historical context of Pylos.
entity Iklaina
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports entity record
Supports the existence, description, classification, or historical context of Iklaina.
entity Gla
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports entity record
Supports the existence, description, classification, or historical context of Gla.
entity Thebes
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports entity record
Supports the existence, description, classification, or historical context of Thebes.
entity Tiryns
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports entity record
Supports the existence, description, classification, or historical context of Tiryns.
entity Mycenae
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports entity record
Supports the existence, description, classification, or historical context of Mycenae.
causal hypothesis Multiple Largely Independent Regional Crises
supports · supports model component
Supports one or more evidential components of Multiple Largely Independent Regional Crises.
causal hypothesis Regionally Asynchronous Multi-Causal Network Transformation
supports · supports model component
Supports one or more evidential components of Regionally Asynchronous Multi-Causal Network Transformation.
property Historiographic Reassessment
supports · supports property definition
Supports the definition or scholarly use of the property Historiographic Reassessment.
property Destruction Horizon
supports · supports property definition
Supports the definition or scholarly use of the property Destruction Horizon.
property Administrative Collapse
supports · supports property definition
Supports the definition or scholarly use of the property Administrative Collapse.
property Chronology Disputed
supports · supports property definition
Supports the definition or scholarly use of the property Chronology Disputed.
claim Of 153 proposed destruction episodes around 1200 BCE audited by Millek, 94 (61%) were classified as misdated, assumed, or repeated through unsupported citation chains.
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports reassessment
Supports the claim: Of 153 proposed destruction episodes around 1200 BCE audited by Millek, 94 (61%) were classified as misdated, assumed, or repeated through unsupported citation chains.
relationship Destruction at Ayios Vasileios — occurred in — Ayios Vasileios
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Destruction at Ayios Vasileios is geographically assigned to Ayios Vasileios.
relationship Destruction at Ayios Vasileios — affected — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Destruction at Ayios Vasileios directly affected Mycenaean Palatial System in this reconstruction.
relationship Destruction at Ayios Vasileios — affected — Ayios Vasileios
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Destruction at Ayios Vasileios directly affected Ayios Vasileios in this reconstruction.
relationship Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina — occurred in — Iklaina
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina is geographically assigned to Iklaina.
relationship Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina — affected — Iklaina
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina directly affected Iklaina in this reconstruction.
relationship Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina — affected — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Destruction or Annexation of Iklaina directly affected Mycenaean Palatial System in this reconstruction.
relationship Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae — occurred in — Mycenae
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae is geographically assigned to Mycenae.
relationship Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae — affected — Mycenae
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae directly affected Mycenae in this reconstruction.
relationship Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae — affected — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Final Destruction of the Palace at Mycenae directly affected Mycenaean Palatial System in this reconstruction.
relationship Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns — occurred in — Tiryns
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns is geographically assigned to Tiryns.
relationship Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns — affected — Tiryns
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns directly affected Tiryns in this reconstruction.
relationship Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns — affected — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Destruction of the Palace at Tiryns directly affected Mycenaean Palatial System in this reconstruction.
relationship Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes — occurred in — Thebes
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes is geographically assigned to Thebes.
relationship Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes — affected — Thebes
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes directly affected Thebes in this reconstruction.
relationship Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes — affected — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Final Palatial Destruction at Thebes directly affected Mycenaean Palatial System in this reconstruction.
relationship Conventional Ramesses III Year 8 chronology — chronologically depends on — Ramesses III’s Year 8 Conflicts Recorded at Medinet Habu
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
The conventional absolute date derives from the adopted Egyptian regnal chronology.
relationship Ugarit date from the Chancellor Bay synchronism — chronologically depends on — Destruction and Abandonment of Ugarit
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
The narrower date depends on synchronizing Ugarit's final texts with named rulers and Egyptian chronology.
relationship Mycenae — located in — Aegean
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Mycenae is located in or geographically associated with Aegean.
relationship Tiryns — located in — Aegean
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Tiryns is located in or geographically associated with Aegean.
relationship Thebes — located in — Aegean
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Thebes is located in or geographically associated with Aegean.
relationship Gla — located in — Aegean
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Gla is located in or geographically associated with Aegean.
relationship Pylos — located in — Aegean
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Pylos is located in or geographically associated with Aegean.
relationship Iklaina — located in — Aegean
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Iklaina is located in or geographically associated with Aegean.
relationship Ayios Vasileios — located in — Aegean
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Ayios Vasileios is located in or geographically associated with Aegean.
relationship Mycenae — member centre of — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Mycenae was a major palatial centre within the Mycenaean political world.
relationship Tiryns — member centre of — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Tiryns was a major palatial centre within the Mycenaean political world.
relationship Thebes — member centre of — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Thebes was a palatial centre within the Mycenaean political world.
relationship Pylos — member centre of — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: very high
supports · supports relationship
Pylos was a major palatial centre with a Linear B administrative archive.
relationship Iklaina — incorporated into — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Iklaina appears to have been destroyed or politically absorbed within the Pylian territorial system before the final palace destruction.
relationship Gla — fortified centre of — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Gla was a large fortified Mycenaean complex associated with regional water management and political organization.
relationship Higher Ramesses III Year 8 chronology — chronologically depends on — Ramesses III’s Year 8 Conflicts Recorded at Medinet Habu
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
The higher absolute date derives from an alternative placement of Ramesses III's reign.
relationship Burning and Abandonment at Gla — occurred in — Gla
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Burning and Abandonment at Gla is geographically assigned to Gla.
relationship Burning and Abandonment at Gla — affected — Gla
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Burning and Abandonment at Gla directly affected Gla in this reconstruction.
relationship Burning and Abandonment at Gla — affected — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Burning and Abandonment at Gla directly affected Mycenaean Palatial System in this reconstruction.
relationship Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos — occurred in — Pylos
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos is geographically assigned to Pylos.
relationship Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos — affected — Pylos
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos directly affected Pylos in this reconstruction.
relationship Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos — affected — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos directly affected Mycenaean Palatial System in this reconstruction.
relationship Dissolution of the Mycenaean Palatial Administrative System — occurred in — Aegean
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Dissolution of the Mycenaean Palatial Administrative System is geographically assigned to Aegean.
relationship Dissolution of the Mycenaean Palatial Administrative System — affected — Mycenaean Palatial System
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports relationship
Dissolution of the Mycenaean Palatial Administrative System directly affected Mycenaean Palatial System in this reconstruction.
relationship Conventional c.1200 BCE Pylos chronology — chronologically depends on — Final Destruction of the Palace of Nestor at Pylos
Evidence confidence: moderate
supports · supports relationship
The conventional Pylos date depends on the traditional end-LH IIIB synchronization of palace destructions.
claim The best-current reconstruction is a regionally asynchronous, multi-causal transformation in which local shocks and conflicts interacted with institutional fragility and, in som…
Evidence confidence: high
supports · supports synthesis
Supports the claim: The best-current reconstruction is a regionally asynchronous, multi-causal transformation in which local shocks and conflicts interacted with institutional fragility and, in some regions, wider network disruption.