Pymatuning earthquake in Pennsylvania and Late Minoan Crisis on Crete

One of the previously published hypotheses on Late Minoan Crisis on Crete considers water loss in aquifers as a reason that forced late Minoan people to abandon their palaces and settlements. According to this hypothesis the water loss in aquifers is attributed to the activity of repeated earthquakes at that time. This hypothesis was supported by numerous case studies of the effects of earthquakes on aquifers in various geological regions around the world. Presented study concentrates on detailed description of the one of the most interesting cases, the aquifer in Pennsylvania (USA) damaged by the relatively moderate Pymatuning earthquake in 1998, and compares its geological settings with similar conditions on Crete, specifically near Phaistos and Knossos palaces. Pymatuning earthquake resulted in devastating effect on approximately 120 households that lost drinking water from wells. The lessons from Pymatuning earthquake provide a unique insight into similar situation that could occur 3,600 years BP on Crete.