Abstract Before the catastrophic eruption around 1640 BC, Thera, Therasia and Aspronisi formed a ring-shaped island with a sea-flooded caldera in the middle. The so-called Pre-Kameni Island was situated in the centre of the caldera. This reconstruction is based on the study of stromatolites found in eruption products as well as other geological observations. The location of pre-eruption settlements or sites on the present rim of the Santorini caldera seems to support this reconstruction. Many of the rocks and minerals used in the Bronze Age culture are of local origin. Foraminiferal and mineralogical studies enable us to trace the source areas of a clay deposit found in a grave chamber in the Akrotiri excavation. This clay can be used for pottery making. The foraminiferal and mineralogical studies also help identify the natural drainage system and thus the freshwater supply, which may have been an important factor deciding the location of the Bronze Age settlement.

ABSTRACT The name Stainforthia (or Fursenkoina ) schreibersiana (Czjzek) has been used for specimens found in Recent and Pleistocene deposits from arctic and subarctic environments as well as Tertiary deposits from Europe. An examination of specimens assigned to Stainforthia schreibersiana has revealed that the specimens belong to two different species: the fossil species from European sites of Tertiary age belongs to Fursenkoina acuta (d’Orbigny) (senior synonym to Fursenkoina schreibersiana (Czjzek)), while the Recent and Pleistocene cold water specimens are here assigned to the new species Stainforthia feylingi. The species is named in honour of Rolf Wilhelm Feyling-Hanssen who has been a pioneer of Quaternary foraminiferal studies in Scandinavia.

ABSTRACT This paper presents data on the distribution of recent benthic foraminifera (total faunas) in the Kattegat-Skagerrak area (Scandinavia) based on a compilation and interpretation of new and previously published data. A Q-mode factor analysis based on the 22 most important species in 177 samples identified five major assemblages. These were the Elphidium excavatum, Eggerelloides scabrus, Bulimina marginata, Cassidulina laevigata and Bolivina skagerrakensis assemblages. The first three assemblages were found within areas of significant hydrographic variability whereas the last two assemblages inhabited areas of stable hydrography in the deeper parts of the Skagerrak. A number of other species were common in the area. Among these, the distributional patterns of Cibicides lobatulus, Stainforthia fusiformis and Nonionellina labradorica are described.