Samalas eruption and the transformation of medieval Lombok

Record summary

The enormous Samalas eruption in 1257 is identified through volcanic deposits in Indonesia and sulfate signals in polar ice cores, with historical and archaeological evidence connected to the destruction of settlements near the volcano. The event is relevant to catastrophe comparison because it combines a securely attested eruption with questions about abandonment, resettlement and regional climatic effects. The extent and timing of demographic disruption beyond Lombok remain uncertain, and later political traditions should not be treated as direct eyewitness testimony without source criticism.