Search

This study presents new archaeomagnetic results from 33 combustion structures (kilns and hearths) from the archaeological sites of Castelinho, Crestelos, Olival Poço da Barca and Fonte do Milho in NE Portugal. The age of the investigated structures ranges from 1210 BC to 200 AD according to calibrated radiocarbon dating, thermoluminescence dating and archaeological constraints. Stepwise thermal and alternating field demagnetization isolate a single, stable, characteristic remanence component with very well defined directions. Rock magnetic analyses suggest low-Ti titanomagnetite/maghemite as the main magnetic carrier of the remanence. Mean directions are well grouped in most structures. The effect of thermoremanent anisotropy on mean directions has been evaluated and was found to be important. Inclination increases of between 2° and 13° after applying the anisotropy correction at specimen level. This highlights the requirement of evaluating this effect on the directions of small and flattened thin kilns and hearths. The 31 new directional data improve both the temporal and spatial distribution of the Iberian archaeomagnetic dataset from Late Bronze Age to Roman Times. Finally, a new directional palaeosecular variation curve for Iberia for the last twelve centuries BC is proposed. The curve has been computed using the bootstrap method and includes data coming from sites within 900 km of Madrid. The new palaeodirectional secular variation curve for Iberia is consistent with the Western European palaeosecular variation curve and with the prediction of regional European models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Available apparent polar wander (APW) paths for the 200 Ma configuration of Pangea, just prior to the opening of the Central Atlantic Ocean, differ as much as 10 in arc length. Here, we add new data from northwest Africa for this time, obtained from the northeast-trending Foum-Zguid and Ighrem dykes ( ca. 200 Ma). These dykes form part of the northern domain of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP), and crosscut the Anti-Atlas Ranges in Morocco, and compositionally correspond to quartz-normative tholeiites intruded in continental lithosphere shortly before the opening of the Central Atlantic Ocean. The Foum-Zguid dyke has been intensively studied, whereas the Ighrem dyke has received less scientific focus. We sampled both dykes for paleomagnetic investigation along 100 km of each dyke (12 sites for Foum-Zguid and 11 for Ighrem, 188 samples included in the final analyses). Rock magnetic experiments indicate a mixture of multidomain and single-domain magnetite and/or low-Ti titanomagnetite particles as the principal remanence carriers. In both dykes, the primary nature of the characteristic remanent magnetization is supported by positive contact tests, related to Fe-metasomatism or baked overprints of the corresponding sedimentary country rocks. The directions of the characteristic magnetization exhibit exclusively normal polarity. Site-mean virtual geomagnetic poles are differently grouped in each dyke, suggesting distinct geomagnetic secular variation records. The Foum-Zguid paleomagnetic pole ( N= 12, PLat= 67.9°N, PLon= 247.9°E, κ= 125, A= 3.9°) plots close to that of Ighrem ( N= 11, PLat= 78.4°N, PLon= 238.2°E, κ= 47, A= 6.7°), confirming those mineralogical and geochemical evidences supporting that they represent dissimilar magmatic stages. Virtual geomagnetic poles dispersion from both dykes ( S= 10.5°°) is in line with those obtained from recent studies of a CAMP-related dyke in Iberia and results from CAMP lavas in the Argana basin. These three new estimates of paleosecular variation at low latitudes around the Triassic-Jurassic boundary are concordant with a recently proposed dispersion curve for the Jurassic but suggest a slightly lower geomagnetic scatter than considered so far. After combining results from both dykes, the resulting paleomagnetic pole ( PLat= 73.0°N, PLon= 244.7°E, N= 23, κ= 55, A= 4.1°) is statistically compared with existing and coeval African paleopoles, and with global synthetic 200 Ma running mean poles in northwest Africa coordinates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The only Iberian lower Jurassic paleomagnetic pole come from the “Central Atlantic Magmatic Province”-related Messejana Plasencia dyke, but the age and origin of its remanence have been a matter of discussion. With the aim of solving this uncertainty, and to go further into a better understanding of its emplacement and other possible tectonic features, a systematic paleomagnetic investigation of 40 sites (625 specimens) distributed all along the 530 km of the Messejana Plasencia dyke has been carried out. Rock magnetic experiments indicate PSD low Ti-titanomagnetite and magnetite as the minerals carrying the NRM. The samples were mostly thermally demagnetized. Most sites exhibit a characteristic remanent component of normal polarity with the exception of two sites, where samples with reversed polarities have been observed. The paleomagnetic pole derived from a total of 35 valid sites is representative of the whole structure of the dyke, and statistically well defined, with values of PLa=70.4°N, PLo=237.6°E, K =47.9 and A 95 =3.5°. Paleomagnetic data indicates that: (i) there is no evidence of a Cretaceous remagnetization in the dyke, as it was suggested; (ii) most of the dyke had a brief emplacement time; furthermore, two dyke intrusion events separated in time from it by at least 10,000 y have been detected; (iii) the high grouping of the VGPs directions suggests no important tectonic perturbations of the whole structure of the dyke since its intrusion time; (iv) the pole derived from this study is a good quality lower Jurassic paleopole for the Iberian plate; and (v) the Messejana Plasencia dyke paleopole for the Iberian plate is also in agreement with quality-selected European and North American lower Jurassic paleopoles and the magnetic anomalies data sets that are available for rotate them to Iberia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In directional archaeomagnetic studies, it is rarely analysed whether the combustion structures display anisotropy of their thermoremanent magnetization (ATRM). It has been observed that, in specific cases like thin baked clays from the base of small hearths, archaeomagnetic directions can also be disturbed by the ATRM. We re-examine data from 56 combustion structures from Iberia and use them to analyse the ATRM effect on their archaeomagnetic directions. Flattening of inclinations up to 13o has been found in highly anisotropic structures that can be adequately corrected by the ATRM tensors. We show how the lack of anisotropy corrections on directional values can dramatically deteriorate the ages obtained from archaeomagnetic dating, highlighting the importance of systematically analysing this property in future archaeomagnetic studies. [Display omitted] • Inclination flattening has been found on archaeomagnetic directional studies. • Thin baked clays from small hearths are prone to present flatten inclinations. • These combustion structures present high anisotropy of their thermorremanence. • Anisotropy of thermoremanence tensors correct deviations of the inclinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of ε-Fe 2 O 3 in archaeological samples that have been subjected to high temperatures is gradually being detected by the use of micrometric structural characterization techniques. This work provides new information by revealing that the ε-Fe 2 O 3 is formed as a response to temperature, the aggregation state and the position within the baked clay with respect to the nearest heat source. In addition, depending mainly on the atmospheric environment, the temperature reached by the combustion structure, the distance from the heating source and the particle aggregation, other iron oxide magnetic phases are produced. In the baked clay studied here, hematite is found over the whole range of samples studied but its magnetic contribution is negligible. Magnetite is observed at the sample surface, probably due to local atmospheric environment closest to the combustion source. Maghemite is found at all depths up to 6 cm below the sample surface. ε-Fe 2 O 3 has a limited distribution, found within 2–3 cm of the sample surface. Furthermore, the viability of this compound as a palaeofield marker has been evaluated in both archaeological and synthetic samples. The results indicate that ε-Fe 2 O 3 is able to register the direction of the magnetic field. Linear palaeointensity plots have been obtained in synthetic samples, although the value of the palaeofield could be, sometimes, overestimated. • The formation of ε-Fe 2 O 3 in archaeological findings is studied in terms of the depth from the fire source. • CRS reveals the formation of Fe 3 O 4 and α-Fe 2 O 3 / γ-, ε-, and α-Fe 2 O 3 / γ- and α-Fe 2 O 3 in the top/intermediate/bottom region. • Maximum ε-Fe 2 O 3 signature is detected at 2 cm in-depth in the specific case studied. • The reevaluation of the COO results confirms that ε-Fe 2 O 3 records the geomagnetic field direction. • A stable thermoremanent magnetization is recorded in the first palaeomagnetic experiment carried on a synthetic ε-Fe 2 O 3. • A proper direction is obtained in the synthetic sample as well as a linear trend in Arai plots during the TH experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent paleomagnetic studies have shown that important short‐lived intensity fluctuations occurred during the first millennium BCE. However, the knowledge of the spatial and temporal extension of these features is still limited by the scarce availability of robust data. In this study we focus on the study of the intensity decrease that took place in Central Asia during the second half of the 1st millennium BCE after the high intensities that characterized the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly. Since previous archeointensities available for this period and region were obtained without accomplishing modern standards of quality, we present here new archeointensities that are derived from classical Thellier and Thellier experiments, including partial thermoremanent magnetization (pTRM) checks, thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) anisotropy and cooling rate corrections at the specimen level. The new 51 archeointensities, together with previous archeointensities, have been used to present a new local paleosecular variation curve for Central Asia. The results confirm the existence of an important geomagnetic field intensity decrease in South Uzbekistan from the 4th century BCE to the end of the 1st century BCE associated with rates of changes up to −15 μT/century. A critical analysis of the archeointensity global database indicates that this feature was present at continental scale, from Western Europe to Central Asia. However, this trend is not identified in other regions such as Japan or Mexico. Finally, the comparison with the dipole moment derived from recent global geomagnetic field reconstructions suggests a strong influence of non‐dipolar sources upon this continental intensity feature. Plain Language Summary: The Earth's magnetic field (also called the geomagnetic field) is continuously changing over time and space. Since the 19th century, the behavior of the geomagnetic field is known through direct observations performed in geomagnetic observatories and satellites. However, the only way to recover past geomagnetic field in ancient times is through paleomagnetic and archeomagnetic studies. In particular, archeomagnetism is the study of heated archeological materials, which include ferromagnetic particles acting as a compass and recording the geomagnetic field direction and strength at a certain time. When the archeological material cools down the ferromagnetic particles save the direction and intensity, like a photograph of the ancient geomagnetic field. Nowadays, there are very few archeomagnetic studies dealing with archeological materials from Central Asia. In this work, we present the variation of the geomagnetic field intensity between 600 BCE–600 CE in Uzbekistan deduced from a complete archeomagnetic investigation of 70 pottery fragments. The results confirm a rapid variation of geomagnetic field strength between 400 BCE and 100 BCE–1CE. To determine the spatial expression of this feature, we compared the obtained trend for Central Asia with the geomagnetic field intensity evolution in other regions of the world. Key Points: We present 51 new thermoremanent magnetization‐anisotropy corrected archeointensities for South UzbekistanAn important decrease in intensity is observed between 400 BCE and 100 BCE–1 CE, probably associated with non‐dipolar sourcesSimilar intensity V‐shaped trends are observed at continental scale [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chronology of the Late Bronze Age and the earliest stages of the Iron Age in the Mediterranean is an important topic of debate since the study of both local social dynamics and trade and colonial activity around the Mediterranean requires obviously well-established chronological frameworks. However, the exact chronology of the Early Iron Age in the Mediterranean region is still a problematic issue today since different, and in some cases unbalanced, sources of information (historical texts, material culture sequences, and radiocarbon dating results) are used. The NE Iberian Peninsula is not an exception and different time periods are proposed in the literature for the Early Iron Age. Here, and in order to provide a new and an independent input to feed this debate, we apply the archeomagnetic dating method to four archeological hearths from the Sant Jaume Complex, a set of several Early Iron Age archeological sites located in the north-eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. The archeomagnetic dating results suggest that the abandonment of the studied structures (that can be linked to the abandonment of the archeological sites) most probably occurred before 650 BC, and therefore invalidate the age commonly ascribed to the Early Iron Age sites in this area. Our study provides, hence, new evidences that the traditional view of human settlement development in the NE Iberian Peninsula should be revisited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A revision of Jurassic palaeomagnetic data from Iberia has been carried out in order to investigate the consistency between the palaeomagnetic information and the tectonic models proposed for the western Mediterranean. Due to the presence of a widespread (but partial) remagnetization which affected most Jurassic sediments in Iberia, selection criteria have been designed to avoid completely remagnetized sites. A total of 72 sites have been considered for the palaeomagnetic discussion (35 sites from the Messejana–Plasencia dolerite dyke, 14 sedimentary sites from the Iberian Range and 23 sites from the Betic Cordillera). Three palaeopoles for Iberia have been selected (from the Iberian Massif and from the Iberian Range) for the period around 200Ma, the Toarcian–Aalenian and the Oxfordian. Data from the Subbetic Zone (Betic Cordillera) are used to constrain the palaeolatitude of the Iberian microplate. Iberian data are in general agreement with the BC02 master curve and the reconstruction parameters used to transfer the Iberian data to Europe, but lower palaeolatitudes than predicted by BC02 master curve are observed in Iberia for the Late Jurassic. Iberia reached a maximum in palaeolatitude during the Toarcian–Aalenian (the reference point of Madrid was at about 37°), and since then, the palaeolatitude decreased (Madrid was at 22° by the Kimmeridgian). Tectonic reference models for the Western Mediterranean (Stampfli and Borel, 2002, 2004) do not fit the Iberian declinations and palaeolatitudes. New palaeogeographic reconstructions are proposed for the Hettangian–Sinemurian, the Toarcian–Aalenian and the Oxfordian. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Magma flow in dykes is still not well understood; some reported magnetic fabrics are contradictory and the potential effects of exsolution and metasomatism processes on the magnetic properties are issues open to debate. Therefore, a long dyke made of segments with different thickness, which record distinct degrees of metasomatism, the Messejana–Plasencia dyke (MPD), was studied. Oriented dolerite samples were collected along several cross-sections and characterized by means of microscopy and magnetic analyses. The results obtained show that the effects of metasomatism on rock mineralogy are important, and that the metasomatic processes can greatly influence anisotropy degree and mean susceptibility only when rocks are strongly affected by metasomatism. Petrography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and bulk magnetic analyses show a high-temperature oxidation-exsolution event, experienced by the very early Ti-spinels, during the early stages of magma cooling, which was mostly observed in central domains of the thick dyke segments. Exsolution reduced the grain size of the magnetic carrier (multidomain to single domain transformation), thus producing composite fabrics involving inverse fabrics. These are likely responsible for a significant number of the ‘abnormal’ fabrics, which make the interpretation of magma flow much more complex. By choosing to use only the ‘normal’ fabric for magma flow determination, we have reduced by 50 per cent the number of relevant sites. In these sites, the imbrication angle of the magnetic foliation relative to dyke wall strongly suggests flow with end-members indicating vertical-dominated flow (seven sites) and horizontal-dominated flow (three sites). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Absolute past geomagnetic intensity values can mainly be recovered by fired archaeological materials and volcanic rocks. Here, we present 10 new archeointensities from the Mediterranean region that help to better constrain geomagnetic field intensity changes in Europe over the last two millennia. The new archeointensity results were obtained from the Thellier classical method including thermoremanent magnetization (pTRM) checks and both the TRM anisotropy and cooling rate corrections and were derived from at least three specimens. The new data presented, together with a selection of previous archeointensities satisfying a set of quality criteria, confirm the presence of several intensity maxima in Europe over the last 2000 years. In particular, the new archeointensities allow to better define the starting point of the double-oscillation feature that occurred in Europe during the second half of the first millennium CE, and reinforce the existence of a relative maximum at the end of the 14th century - beginning of the 15th century in Western Europe. From selected European archeointensities two new paleosecular variation curves are constructed for Western and Eastern Europe using temporal cubic b-splines in a bootstrap approach. The obtained curves suggest that the occurrence of the intensity maxima is characterized by a period of about 300 ± 50 years. In addition, our results suggest that the maxima do not occur simultaneously in Western and Eastern Europe, pointing out an intensity eastward drift with a mean lag-time of about 100 years. [Display omitted] • New 10 archeointensities for the Mediterranean region for the last two millennia. • Evolution of the double-oscillation in Europe (2nd half of 1st millennium CE). • The intensity maxima depicted seem to be compatible with an eastward drift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New 37 archeointensities for the Central Mediterranean (1500 BCE–150 CE). • First evidence of a rapid intensity change between 1070 and 1040 BCE in Greece. • The Levantine Iron Age Anomaly (LIAA) is present in the Central Mediterranean. • A global analysis suggests that the LIAA vanishes to the west and to the east. The magnitude and origin of the Levantine Iron Age geomagnetic Anomaly (LIAA), which spanned the first half of the first millennium before the common era, are not yet well understood. Recent archeomagnetic studies from the Levant and Western Europe suggest a western drift of this feature, stressing the importance of investigating the temporal and spatial behaviour of this event over the Central Mediterranean area. To analyse this issue, we here present 37 new archeointensity data obtained from the archeomagnetic study of 118 ceramics and brick fragments collected in 8 archeological sites in Greece and Italy with ages ranging between 1500 BCE and 150 CE. The samples were analysed using the classical Thellier and Thellier method for paleointensity determination, including the correction for the anisotropy effect of the thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) and for the cooling rate dependence upon TRM acquisition. The results reveal the first evidence of a high-intensity peak in Greece between 1070 and 1040 BCE associated to high virtual axial dipole moment (VADM) values of around 140 ZAm2. A global analysis of available paleointensities suggests that the origin of these high values is the same to the one which produced the maximum VADM of the LIAA in the Levantine region. Our results suggest that the source of the LIAA is located in the Levantine region vanishing to the north, to the west and to the east where lower VADMs are observed. In addition, another high intensity maximum, less pronounced than the one of the LIAA, seems to be present around 500 BCE all over Europe, from the Canary Islands to Turkey showing similar VADM values (around 150 ZAm2) in the different regions. Both events seem to span over a large region at the Earth's surface covering more than 60° of longitude, verifying an Earth's outer core origin for these intensity features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• New archaeomagnetic data from the Early Iron Ages were obtained for Spain. • High geomagnetic fluctuation rates up to 8° and 16 μT/century were observed. • A new reconstruction model (SHAWQ-Iron Age) has been obtained. • New hints about the evolution of the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly (LIAA) are shown. • Normal flux patch (NFP) linked to the LIAA is observed at the core-mantle boundary. Variations of geomagnetic field in the Iberian Peninsula prior to Late Iron Age times are poorly constrained. Here we report 14 directional and 10 palaeointensity results from an archaeomagnetic study carried out on 17 combustion structures recovered from six archaeological sites in eastern Spain. The studied materials have been dated by archaeological evidences and supported by radiocarbon dates (8th-5th centuries BC). Rock magnetic experiments indicate that the characteristic remanent magnetization is carried by a low coercivity magnetic phase with Curie temperatures of 500-575 °C, most likely titanomagnetite/maghemite with low titanium content. Archaeointensity determinations were carried out by using the classical Thellier-Thellier experiment including pTRM-checks and magnetic anisotropy corrections. A new full vector Iberian Paleosecular Variation Curve for the Iron Age is presented. High fluctuation rates on both directions and intensities are observed during the Early Iron times that seems to be related with the Levantine Iron Age Anomaly (LIAA), the most prominent anomaly of the geomagnetic field of the last three millennia. Two intensity maxima were observed at Iberian coordinates, the oldest around 750 BC (associated with easterly declinations of around 23°) and the second 275 yrs later (475 BC) with northerly directions. The related virtual axial dipole moment was up to 14 ⋅ 10 22 Am2 for the oldest materials (750 BC) and reaching 16 ⋅ 10 22 Am2 for the materials corresponding to the end of the Early Iron Age. In order to investigate the origin of the unusually high fluctuations of the palaeofield we have developed a new global geomagnetic field reconstruction, the SHAWQ-IronAge model, which is based on a critical revision of the global archeomagnetic and volcanic dataset. The new model provides an improved description of the evolution of the LIAA, which is related to a normal flux patch at the core-mantle boundary (CMB) below Arabian Peninsula clearly observed at around 950 BC. This flux patch expanded towards the north-west, while decreasing in intensity, reaching Iberia at around 750 BC. Around 600-500 BC, it underwent a revival below the European continent after that it seems to vanish in situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]