The settlement was destroyed in the Theran eruption sometime in the 16th century BC and buried in volcanic ash , which preserved the remains of fine frescoes and many objects and artworks . The settlement has been suggested as a possible inspiration for Plato 's story of Atlantis . In any case the Atlantis speculation is only one of many . Akrotiri has been excavated since 1967
Theran eruption
Minoan eruption
Akrotiri (Santorini)