Prehistoric "settlement crisis," environmental changes in the British Isles, and volcanic eruptions in Iceland: An exploration of plausible linkages

Abstract

Prehistoric volcanic eruptions in Iceland have been previously described as the most probable causes of several distinctive paleoenvironmental and archeological "events" in the British Isles. These events range in character from the development of sequences of extremely narrow growth rings in the Irish bog-oak tree-ring chronologies, to an inferred sudden abandonment of settlement in northern Scotland, an event sometimes termed the "Settlement Crisis" of the European Late Bronze Age. This chapter presents a theoretical analysis of plausible interactions that may have taken place, especially those concerning erupted acid volatiles, the prevailing meteorological situation, soil status, acidification, and human subsistence. It pays particular attention to models and information derived from modern understandings of the nature and impact of volcanic eruptions and emphasizes the desirability of maintaining a healthy skepticism concerning the reality of such linkages.

The Laacher See-eruption (12,920 BP) and material culture change at the end of the Allerød in Northern Europe

“…Elk and giant deer, the main prey animals of Federmesser hunters in Northern Europe, are closely tied to aquatic habitats (Geist, 1999) and they may have avoided areas affected by fall-out. However, it is unclear how extensive and persistent the impact of the LSE on the vegetation and climate was Litt et al, 2003) and it also has to be remembered that the impact of volcanic eruptions on human societies is often rather more indirect than through simple environmental change (e.g., Grattan and Gilbertson, 2000). Shennan (2000, p. 821) has suggested that 'the single most important factor in understanding culture change is population dynamics'.…”

Testing the ‘Laacher See hypothesis’: a health hazard perspective

“…Anecdotal reports also speak of severe and ultimately lethal increases in dental wear as people and animals ingest tephra-laden vegetation (Trowbridge, 1976). Both the chemical load as well as the mechanical properties of distal tephra fall-out have contributed substantially to the direct and indirect impacts of other past eruptions (e.g., Edwards et al, 1994;Grattan and Gilbertson, 2000;Grattan et al, 2007Grattan et al, , 2005. Fluoride, with which the lower LST phase (LLST) -the one that participated preferentially in the distal NE fall-out -is 'extremely.enriched' (Harms and Schmincke, 2000, p. 90), causes enamel to soften (Fejerskov et al, 1988) and this may further compound already increased tooth wear due to mechanical abrasion.…”