# Did an earthquake storm destroy many of the sites? · Late Bronze Age collapse > Three answers have been proposed. Earthquakes played at most a local role. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464P040RGM/did-an-earthquake-storm-destroy-many-of-the-sites Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:58+00:00 --- **0** # Did an earthquake storm destroy many of the sites? 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: earthquakes played at most a local role** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. Earthquakes played at most a local role. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters The region is seismically active and the earthquake reading is the one natural cause that could destroy many sites quickly; its proponents call the case unproven⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CFE56RK/poseidons-horses-plate-tectonics-and-earthquake-storms-in). ## Answers 3 [**Earthquakes played at most a local role.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D4653DT2PN0/earthquakes-played-at-most-a-local-role) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**A sequence of major earthquakes in 1225–1175 BC destroyed many of the sites.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D4652Y661KD/a-sequence-of-major-earthquakes-in-12251175-bc-destroyed) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/answers/ANS0D4653XE4RC1/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2000[Nur & Cline puts forward: a sequence of major earthquakes in 1225–1175 BC destroyed many of the sites.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CFE56RK/poseidons-horses-plate-tectonics-and-earthquake-storms-in) 1. 2000[Nur & Cline: destroyed sites lie overwhelmingly in high-shaking zones.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CFE56RK/poseidons-horses-plate-tectonics-and-earthquake-storms-in)For: A sequence of major earthquakes in 1225–1175 BC destroyed many of the sites. 1. 2000[Nur & Cline: the proponents themselves describe the evidence as not conclusive.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464CFE56RK/poseidons-horses-plate-tectonics-and-earthquake-storms-in)For: Earthquakes played at most a local role. 1. 2016[Knapp & Manning puts forward: earthquakes played at most a local role.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D464BZT04YP/crisis-in-context-the-end-of-the-late-bronze-age-in-the) 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464P040RGM/did-an-earthquake-storm-destroy-many-of-the-sites%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/QST0D464P040RGM/did-an-earthquake-storm-destroy-many-of-the-sites%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/QST0D464P040RGM/did-an-earthquake-storm-destroy-many-of-the-sites%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/QST0D464P040RGM/did-an-earthquake-storm-destroy-many-of-the-sites%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/QST0D464P040RGM/did-an-earthquake-storm-destroy-many-of-the-sites%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?** You're here · 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?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/bronze-age-collapse/questions/QST0D464N0W57P9/were-the-destructions-clustered-in-the-years-after-the)Most likely · most destructions fall within a few decades after about 1200 BC [ Ask a question under this one ]