# Were the destructions clustered in the years after the 1198–1196 BC drought, or spread over a century? · Late Bronze Age collapse > Three answers have been proposed. Most destructions fall within a few decades after about 1200 BC. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N0W57P9/were-the-destructions-clustered-in-the-years-after-the Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:58+00:00 --- **0** # Were the destructions clustered in the years after the 1198–1196 BC drought, or spread over a century? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What was the principal cause of the end of the Late Bronze Age palace system in the eastern Mediterranean?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464MS26SDY/what-was-the-principal-cause-of-the-end-of-the-late-bronze)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: most destructions fall within a few decades after about 1200 BC** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Most destructions fall within a few decades after about 1200 BC. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters A single trigger predicts a tight cluster; a long process predicts a spread. The Gordion drought gives the first exact climate date to test against⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D4649224SDR/severe-multi-year-drought-coincident-with-hittite-collapse), and Knapp and Manning emphasise that the changes were spread out⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464BZT04YP/crisis-in-context-the-end-of-the-late-bronze-age-in-the). ## Answers 3 [**Most destructions fall within a few decades after about 1200 BC.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D464TWC4ECW/most-destructions-fall-within-a-few-decades-after-about-1200) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**The destructions and abandonments are spread over a century or more, from the mid 13th to the 12th century.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D464VKT04M4/the-destructions-and-abandonments-are-spread-over-a-century) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D464WB8743E/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2011[Kaniewski et al. puts forward: most destructions fall within a few decades after about 1200 BC.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464A1A0V5G/the-sea-peoples-from-cuneiform-tablets-to-carbon-dating) 1. 2011[Kaniewski et al.: gibala-Tell Tweini is dated to 1192–1190 BC and is contemporary with Ugarit's destruction.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464A1A0V5G/the-sea-peoples-from-cuneiform-tablets-to-carbon-dating)For: Most destructions fall within a few decades after about 1200 BC. 1. 2013[Langgut et al.: the Sea of Galilee dry phase begins about 1250 BCE, before the main destructions.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464ARR7J8Z/climate-and-the-late-bronze-collapse-new-evidence-from-the)For: The destructions and abandonments are spread over a century or more, from the mid 13th to the 12th century. 1. 2016[Knapp & Manning puts forward: the destructions and abandonments are spread over a century or more, from the mid 13th to the 12th century.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464BZT04YP/crisis-in-context-the-end-of-the-late-bronze-age-in-the) 1. 2016[Knapp & Manning: the review places the changes at different times from the mid to late 13th through the 12th century.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464BZT04YP/crisis-in-context-the-end-of-the-late-bronze-age-in-the)For: The destructions and abandonments are spread over a century or more, from the mid 13th to the 12th century. 1. 2017[Finné et al.: pylos was destroyed about 3150–3130 BP.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464B8C53SJ/late-bronze-age-climate-change-and-the-destruction-of-the)For: Most destructions fall within a few decades after about 1200 BC. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N0W57P9/were-the-destructions-clustered-in-the-years-after-the%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N0W57P9/were-the-destructions-clustered-in-the-years-after-the%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N0W57P9/were-the-destructions-clustered-in-the-years-after-the%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N0W57P9/were-the-destructions-clustered-in-the-years-after-the%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N0W57P9/were-the-destructions-clustered-in-the-years-after-the%23add-source) Where it fits Late Bronze Age collapse [**What was the principal cause of the end of the Late Bronze Age palace system in the eastern Mediterranean?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464MS26SDY/what-was-the-principal-cause-of-the-end-of-the-late-bronze)Key question · most likely no single cause; several stresses (climate, famine, migration, war, earthquakes, internal unrest) struck… [Did an earthquake storm destroy many of the sites?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464P040RGM/did-an-earthquake-storm-destroy-many-of-the-sites)Most likely · earthquakes played at most a local role [How severe and how widespread was the climate change around 1200 BC?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464NRA16TQ/how-severe-and-how-widespread-was-the-climate-change-around)Most likely · a regional shift to drier, cooler conditions lasting about three centuries **Were the destructions clustered in the years after the 1198–1196 BC drought, or spread over a century?** You're here · most destructions fall within a few decades after about 1200 BC [ Ask a question under this one ]