In Search of Ancient Tsunamis : A Researcher's Travels, Tools, and Techniques

In Search of Ancient Tsunamis takes readers on a journey through the science of tsunamis and acts as a "how to" guide in the geology, geomorphology, anthropology, and archaeology of these devastating phenomena. The book draws on examples from around the world and includes numerous personal accounts of field and laboratory experiences. This journey through tsunami science is framed within the search for ancient tsunamis in the northern part of Chile, a desert environment that requires all the skillsets available to the tsunami researcher. This is a region where numerous attempts to find evidence have failed largely due to the hostile environment that refuses to play by the rules. The story is told through the very personal lens of the author with first-hand accounts of the trials and tribulations of fieldwork and local eccentricities, of serendipitous events, and a growing awareness and understanding of a wide variety of techniques that can be applied to the science. The journey is populated with side stories engaging the reader with deeper insights into the countries, study areas, joys and disappointments of carrying out scientific research across the globe. It is both a very personal story as well as an in-depth look at the science involved in an increasingly sophisticated and interdisciplinary search to better understand the true nature of tsunamis. It contains the wisdom of elders, "Eureka" moments of discovery, and a look at the very latest developments of understanding the effects of ancient tsunamis on prehistoric human populations. "This is the story of a journey. It begins in a small, slightly overfull office in Sydney, Australia and ends in the unremitting heat of the Atacama Desert coast in Chile. To get from A to B though is no straight line, it takes many geographical and anecdotal tangents. The journey is one of discovery. It describes my part in the emergence of a new and extremely violent science - unravelling the mysteries of past tsunamis. There are two sides to the story of every tsunami - the careful piecing together of the physical evidence for these catastrophic events and the patient assembly of the jigsaw puzzle that often reflects the less tangible signs, the human story. After all, the only reason we really care about tsunamis is because they catch us by surprise, destroy our coastal communities, and kill us. The past couple of decades have seen 1000s of unnecessary tsunami-related deaths but we continue to believe that we can control nature, control this beast. It is only when you delve into the past that you start to realise that not only have tsunamis been even bigger than we have experienced in living memory, but that they have also destroyed coastal communities, and just like today we never seem to truly learn from these experiences. In the absence of this huge back catalogue of human folly we continue to make the same mistakes. In this case the past is our key to the future -the more we know about the past, the better prepared we will be for the future. The trick is to know what you are looking for; and this is the start of that journey"-- Provided by publisher Abstract This entertaining book offers a journey through the science of tsunamis, a “how to” guide in many ways of what to look for in the geology, geomorphology, anthropology, and archaeology. It draws on examples from around the world and includes numerous personal accounts of field and laboratory experiences. This journey through tsunami science is framed within the search for ancient tsunamis in the northern part of Chile, a desert environment that requires the use of all the skillsets available to the tsunami researcher. This is a region where numerous attempts to find evidence have failed largely due to the hostile environment that refuses to play by the rules. The story is told through the very personal lens of the author with firsthand accounts of the trials and tribulations of fieldwork and local eccentricities, of serendipitous events, and a growing awareness and understanding of the value of a wide variety of techniques that can be applied to the science. The journey is populated with side stories engaging the reader with deeper insights into the countries, study areas, joys, and disappointments of carrying out scientific research across the globe. It is both a very personal story as well as an in-depth look at the science involved in an increasingly sophisticated and interdisciplinary search to better understand the true nature of tsunamis. It contains the wisdom of elders, “eureka” moments of discovery, and a look at the very latest developments in understanding the effects of ancient tsunamis on prehistoric human populations. Cover In Search of Ancient Tsunamis Copyright Dedication Contents List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments Plate 1. Serendipity—​An Introduction 2. Strand 1: December 26, 2004—​Indian Ocean 3. Strand 2: Same Time, Different Places 4. Strand 3: New Light through Old Windows 5. Strand 4: Chatham Islands—​Rekohu/​Wharekauri—​How Big? 6. Strand 5: Just Part of the Problem 7. Strand 6: The Human Touch 8. Strand 7: Piled Higher and Deeper 9. Strand 8: A Country with Latitude 10. Strand 9: Life and Death on the Edge 11. Strand 10: The Future Bibliography Index