archaeoseismology

Archaeoseismology is the study of ancient earthquakes by analysis of archaeological sites before Robert Mallet's protomodern seismology in the mid-19th century. Such analyses reveal information about seismic events that was not historically recorded before the advent of seismometers in the late 19th century. Such data can also help to document seismic risk in areas subject to brutally destructive earthquakes. In 1991, an international conference in Athens marked the beginning of modern research in the field of archaeoseismology, described as a "study of ancient earthquakes, and their social, cultural, historical and natural effects".

==The main idea== Earthquakes in the distant past may provide important information for a regional seismic risk assessment. We have quantitative data concerning past earthquakes only from the beginning of the 20th century (as the seismograph was invented only at the end of the 19th century), but humanity has had to deal with earthquakes throughout its existence. Thus we have extremely limited historical information about seismic risks. A methodology for reconstruction of historical earthquakes was held during the 20th century, but with very limited results, especially for archaic earthquakes. Thus research in archaeological sites is needed to try to identify damage and destruction from ancient earthquakes.