Stratigraphy and Radiocarbon Dating of Pyroclastic Deposits at Merapi Volcano
Stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating of pyroclastic deposits at Merapi Volcano, Central Java, reveals ,10,000 years of explosive eruptions. Highlights include:
(1) Construction of an Old Merapi stratovolcano to the height of the present cone or slightly higher. Our oldest age for an explosive eruption is 9630 ± 6014 C y B.P.; construction of Old Merapi certainly began earlier.
(2) Collapse(s) of Old Merapi that left a somma rim high on its eastern slope and sent one or more debris avalanche(s) down its southern and western flanks. Impoundment of Kali Progo to form an early Lake Borobudur at ~3400 14C y B.P. hints at a possible early collapse of Merapi. The latest somma-forming collapse occurred ~1900 14C y B.P. The current cone, New Merapi, began to grow soon thereafter.
(3) Several large and many small Buddhist and Hindu temples were constructed in Central Java between 732 and ~900 A.D. (roughly, 1400–1000 c y B.P.). Explosive Merapi eruptions occurred before, during and after temple construction....