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Scenes from the University of Rhode Island

Lost Kingdom of Tambora
Research by URI's Haraldur Sigurdsson


TamboraTambora News Round-up (Feb. 27-March 2, 2006)

The following stories report on Graduate School of Oceanography Professor Haraldur Sigurdsson’s discovery of the lost kingdom of Tambora beneath the ash of the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history.

In addition to the New York Times, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Reuters, BBC News, UPI, and Bloomberg News Service, the wire services story has reached more than 300 media outlets around the world. More global media calls have been received as well. Haraldur Sigurdsson was interviewed for broadcast news programs by CBS radio news, National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered,” Discovery Channel/Canada’s “Daily Planet,” Science Channel’s “Science This Week,” New Zealand National Radio, CBC radio Canada, Iceland Television, WBUR radio Boston, Channel 10.

Q & A with John Noble Wilford
New York Times – March 3
... Haraldur Sigurdsson of the University of Rhode Island told me the bones were partly carbonized, blackened from hot volcanic blast. (Link here for pdf version.) ...

Culture Destroyed by 1815 Volcano Rediscovered
All Things Considered, Feb. 28
University of Rhode Island volcanologist Haraldur Sigurdsson has spent 20 years roaming the islands of Indonesia, a place known for apocalyptic eruptions. Listen to the interview. (Requires audio media player.)

Under an 1815 Volcano Eruption, Remains of a 'Lost Kingdom'
New York Times – Feb. 28
One of history's most violent volcanic eruptions blasted the island of Sumbawa in the East Indies in 1815. ... (PDF version of article.)

Excavation reveals a village buried by 1815 volcanic blast
USA Today - Feb. 28
... The eruption of Mount Tambora in 1815 was the largest in ... Pompeii, says volcanologist Haraldur Sigurdsson of the University of Rhode Island in Narragansett. ...

Indonesia finds its Pompeii
Chicago Tribune, United States - Feb. 28
... Mt. Tambora's cataclysmic eruption on April 10, 1815, buried the ... University of Rhode Island volcanologist Haraldur Sigurdsson, the leader of the expedition ... (This Associated Press story appeared in the printed or online versions of nearly 200 media outlets.) (PDF)

Buried Indonesian village studied for volcanic clues
Reuters News Service – Feb. 28
Scientists are unearthing an Indonesian village buried nearly two centuries ago by the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history… (This Reuters story appeared in printed or online versions of more than 30 international news outlets in the following countries: Australia, India, Indonesia, Germany, England, China, Russia, Canada, Ireland, Turkey, and Romania)

"Lost Kingdom" Discovered on Volcanic Island in Indonesia
National Geographic – Feb. 28
Scientists announced today the discovery of a small "kingdom" on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa thought to have been obliterated by the largest volcanic ...

Indonesian Volcano Site Reveals `Pompeii of the East'
Bloomberg News - Feb. 28
... that Tambora could be the Pompeii of the east and it could be of great cultural interest,'' Haraldur Sigurdsson of the University of Rhode Island, who led the ...

The lost kingdom of Tambora is found
United Press International - Feb. 27
KINGSTON, RI, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- History's largest volcanic eruption destroyed the island kingdom of Tambora in 1815 and now the first ...

Unearthing a lost civilization
Providence Journal (subscription), RI - Feb. 28
... of Rhode Island scientist has discovered the first clues to a lost civilization that could be the "Pompeii of the East.". In 1815, the eruption of Mount Tambora ...

Scientists Claim to Find Lost Civilization
CBS News - Feb. 28
Mount Tambora's cataclysmic eruption on April 10, 1815, buried the ... University of Rhode Island volcanologist Haraldur Sigurdsson, the leader of the expedition ...

'Pompeii of the East' discovered
BBC News, UK - Feb. 28
An expedition to the site of the largest volcanic eruption in modern times has uncovered a lost kingdom. More than 100,000 people ...

Lost Kingdom of Tambora Uncovered
Discovery Channel – March 1
... access, so it has been little studied over the years," said Haraldur Sigurdsson, professor of volcanology at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of ...  

'New Pompeii' uncovered on Indonesian island
Independent (London) – March 1

Scientists find lost civilization buried by volcano
The Guardian (London) – March 1

 'Lost kingdom' springs from the ashes
International Herald Tribune (France) – March 1
... In an announcement this week by the Graduate School of Oceanography of the University of Rhode Island, the scientists reported uncovering bronze bowls, ceramic ...

Scientists unearth 'Pompeii of the East'
Christian Science Monitor, MA - March 2
... and Vietnam, according to Haraldur Sigurdsson, a University of Rhode Island volcanologist who ... Tambora, Dr. Sigurdsson says, "could be the Pompeii of the East."

Images of Tambora


  • Images taken as part of research on the Lost Kingdom of Tambora.
  • News coverage of this story when it was released.
  • Video slide presentation about the research expedition.
  • Return to Tambora home page.