A Geoarchaeological Investigation of Paleo-tsunami and Paleoseismic Activity in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia

The project combines geologists and archaeologists to investigate paleo-tsunami and paleo-seismic events, and their impact on coastal communities in northern Sumatra.

Previous research suggests at least one major tsunami hit the region around the 15th century AD. The project uses sedimentological, stratigraphic, and archaeological methods to identify past tsunamis and subsidence, and provide dating of critical features and stratigraphic units. Fieldwork will focus on two coastal sites in Aceh in May/June 2010.