sven.kriti

The reason for the Minoans to be so dominant in the area was their superior ships! Until quite recently the ships has been underestimated. They were equipped with a keel so they could sail against the winds. In facts they were not inferior to the Viking ships that ruled the seas 1500 years later. The Vikings discovered America 500 years before Columbus.
Recently we have found indications that the Minoans travelled as far as Scandinavia!
They may also have been in America!

It was the Tsunami from the volcanic eruptions at Santorini about 1615 that destroyed most of the Minoan fleet.
The Mycenaeans were warriors. They conquered Crete in few years after the Minoans lost the control of the sea.
The Minoans culture started at the same time to disintegrate but it took about 200 year before it had totally disappeared.

Midas

I don't know about Scandinavia, but to the northern German coast for sure. There's one huge Minoan colony that has been estimated to have a population of 4000 people, including the natives of course.

As for America, I will keep my expectations low for the moment. The whole story about it includes monuments like the palacio de las grecas. Unless I see some Linear A or B in America, or a Minoan po-ti-ni-ja goddess, I won't be convinced.

sven.kriti

There is no evidence, yet, but please explain the following:
There is evidence that cocaine was found in Egyptian mummies. Cocaine was non existence at the time on this side of the Atlantic! The Egyptian ships could not have made the journey, but I believe the Minoans could have made it. There has been a lot of research on the Minoan ships recently carried out at the Nautical Museum in Chania. They even made a small copy! It is likely that the Minoans navigated the same way as the Vikings, by using a solar compass!

sven.kriti

That is correct. At Palaikastro , archaeological sight at the far eastern part of Crete , Minoan settlement with approximately 30 000 inhabitants it is easy to se the traces of the tsunami. I have many time visited the place, once with Alexander Mac Gillivray, the excavator of the place during the last 30 years, who made the "Atlantic" film with ZDF - ARTE. We measured 9 meters that was however enough to wipe out the town, but most of the population survived because they could easily walk up a hill to safe altitude.

Midas

I have heard of this. What is needed though is direct evidence that the Minoans brought the cocaine.

sven.kriti

I am afraid that is impossible. But the suspission will always be on!

Wickerman

I was under the impression that the assumption was that affluent and self indulgent Victorians "contaminating?" the mummies was the suggested cause of cocaine dust being found.

Regards, ...

Shaddam IV

Here is a very detailed article about the cocaine mummies, the evidence, the science, and the theories for where it could of came from that you might find interesting.
Hall of Maat - The Stoned Age?

Hresvelgr

Yes, the Victorian Age had no shortage of archaeological hoaxes that produced conspiracy theories and fringe beliefs that linger on to this day. It even continued into the 20th Century, I think that was when that Roman artifact was planted in a Mexican site from the 14th or 15th centuries.

sven.kriti

You are absolutley right! It may well be a fake, but that does not change the importance of the Minoan Civilisation for being the origin of our European culture and civilisation!