DISAPPEARING ACT

Puzzle over how Europe’s first civilisation was ‘wiped out’ finally solved by ancient tablets

ANCIENT tablets penned by Europe's first advanced civilisation appear to solve the mystery of how they were "wiped out".

The Minoans flourished between the years 2700BC and 1450BC – but evidence of their existence disappeared by 1100BC.

Minoans lived on the isle of Crete, and built huge multi-storey palaces, created detailed artwork and used ancient writing systems.

But their disappearance has always puzzled archaeologists, who previously believe they were killed off by volcanoes, tsunamis or earthquakes.

Now ancient tablets suggest that the Minoans weren't wiped out at all.

The earliest writing systems in Crete were Bronze Age, and was hierogoglyphic.

This was followed by a syllabic writing system called Linear A.

It's a mysterious writing system that's one of the oldest in the world – and remains undeciphered.

But tablets found in the Minoan mega-city Knossos around the year 1450BC onwards use another system called Linear B.

This was the method of writing used by the Greeks and Mycenaeans.

It times perfectly with "destruction layers" in Crete, which suggest the city may have been attacked by nearby Mycenaeans.

This wouldn't have wiped out the civilisation but may have led to administrative systems being replaced, experts say.

It was previously thought that the Minoans had been wiped out by an apocalyptic volcano eruption, tsunami or earthquake.

There is evidence of a large eruption by Thera on nearby Santorini around 1600BC.

But this was not enough to destroy the Minoans.

"Thera's eruption did not directly affect Knossos," said Colin Macdonald, an archaeologist at the British School in Athens, speaking to .

"No volcanic-induced earthquake or tsunami struck the palace which, in any case, is 100 metres above sea level."

Later evidence of wirdespread destruction on Crete around 1450BC could have been an earthquake.

But life in the area persisted, so total wipe-out by a natural disaster seems unlikely.

Instead, it's possible that religious authority in the area collapsed following disasters.

"This could well have manifested itself in local uprisings and the burning of administrative elite buildings," said Macdonald.

Here's what you need to know...

The Minoans were a Bronze Age civilisation in the island of Crete
They flourished between the years 2700BC and 1450BC
This was followed by a period of decline, with the civilisation having largely disappeared by 1100BC
Experts say it represents the "first advanced civilisation in Europe"
Minoans were notable for leaving behind huge building complexes, art, tools, writing systems and an extensive trade network
Some Minoan palaces were built up to four stories high, with detailed decorations and plumbing systems
Their cultural influence reached across the Greek islands, Egypt and Turkey
The Minoan civilisation's disappearance has been a mystery for years
But recent research suggests they were largely assimilated into nearby Greek culture

That would explain why Minoans moved to new writing systems and burial practices.

"Earthquakes were not 'game changers', but often spurred the authorities to try something new," Macdonald added.

"The earthquakes were important in terms of architectural change, but not of cultural discontinuity."

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