Scientists have revised the timeline of ancient Egypt, placing the colossal Thera eruption before Egypt’s New Kingdom era. Researchers analyzed artifacts linked to Pharaoh Ahmose and found radiocarbon clues indicating the eruption occurred during the Second Intermediate Period. The study’s findings suggest a younger chronology for early 18th Dynasty Egypt, reshaping regional historical connections and understanding of ancient Egyptian interactions with nearby cultures.
A team from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the University of Groningen used radiocarbon dating to analyze key artifacts, including a mudbrick from Ahmose Temple at Abydos and linen burial cloth linked to Satdjehuty. Their results show that the massive eruption did not occur during the Egyptian New Kingdom but rather earlier in the Second Intermediate Period.
The revised timeline indicates that the Second Intermediate Period lasted longer than previously thought, and the New Kingdom started later. The study’s lead author, Prof. Hendrik J. Bruins, notes that their findings support a “low” (i.e., younger) timeline for the start of the 18th Dynasty, which has significant implications for our understanding of ancient Egyptian history and its connections with other cultures in the region.
The research team gained rare access to museum materials, including artifacts from the British Museum and the Petrie Museum in London. The study was published in PLOS One and provides new insights into the Thera eruption’s impact on ancient Egypt.
Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251207031331.htm