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Archaeomagnetism, Methodology and Applications: Implementation and Practice of the Archaeomagnetic Method in France and Bulgaria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2017

Philippe Lanos ,
Mary Kovacheva  and
Annick Chauvin
Philippe Lanos
Affiliation:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Mary Kovacheva
Affiliation:
Palaeomagnetic Laboratory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Annick Chauvin
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Palaeomagnetism, University of Rennes
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Abstract

Recent improvements in archaeomagnetism applied to archaeological baked clay, in France and Bulgaria, are presented in this paper. After reviewing the historical development of the method in France and Bulgaria, and the principles of the method, we present sampling techniques for in situ structures (kilns and hearths) and sets of displaced materials (bricks or tiles). In the analysis protocol, we stress the importance of correcting the magnetic anisotropic effects especially for bricks. We also show how the problem of brittle specimens can be solved by induration. After a review of the published archaeomagnetic data currently available for France and Bulgaria, we present different smoothing techniques applied to data obtained in these countries. Finally, we present the usage of the variation curves of the geomagnetic elements in the past to calculate the archaeomagnetic dates. One of these techniques is based on a Bayesian approach, similar to the case of the dendro-chronological calibration of radiocarbon ages. The main goal of the paper is to highlight for the archaeologists the possibilities of archaeomagnetism for dating purposes and for other problems in archaeology, on the basis of the experience of the laboratories in France and Bulgaria. The developments of selected archaeomagnetic studies in other European countries are quoted and referenced.

Nous présentons ici les récents développements de l'archéomagnétisme en France et en Bulgarie, appliqué aux terres cuites archéologiques. Après un rappel du développement historique de la méthode dans ces pays, et un rappel des principes de la méthode, nous présentons les conditions d'échantillonnage concernant les structures en place (fours et foyers) ainsi que les lots de matériaux déplacés tels que les tuiles et briques. Dans le protocole d'analyse, nous insistons sur l'importance de la correction des effets de l'anisotropie d'aimantation thermorémanente, surtout pour les briques. Nous montrons aussi comment nous avons résolu le problème de l'induration des terres cuites non consolidées et friables. Après un tour d'horizon des données archeomagnétiques disponibles (publiées) pour la France et la Bulgarie, nous présentons les courbes obtenues après application de différentes méthodes de lissage. Enfin, nous presentons l'utilisation des courbes de variation des éléments du champ magnétique terrestre dans le passé pour déterminer les dates archéomagnétiques. L'une des techniques utilisées est basée sur une approche bayésienne, comme dans le cas de la calibration dendrochronologique des âges radiocarboniques.

Le principal but de cet article est d'informer les archéologues sur les applications de l'archéomagnétisme à l'archéologie, à des fins de datation et autres applications, à partir de l'expérience des laboratoires en France et en Bulgarie. Le développement des recherches archéomagnétiques dans les autres pays européens sont cités et la bibliographie est donnée.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

In diesem Artikel werden jüngste Fortschritte bei der Analyse von Archäomagnetismus an archäologischem gebranntem Ton aus Frankreich und Bulgarien präsentiert. Zunächst werden die historische Entwicklung der Methodik und ihre Prinzipien beschrieben, bevor Techniken der Probenentnahme von in situ-Strukturen (Øfen und Herden) und Sets von verlagertem Material (Wand- und Dachziegel) präsentiert werden. Im Analyseprotokoll betonen wir die Bedeutung der Korrektur von magnetischen Anisotropie-Effekten, besonders für Wandziegel. Wir zeigen auch, wie das Problem von fragilen Bruchstücken durch Härtung gelöst werden kann. Nach einem Überblick über die bis jetzt vorliegenden Daten für Frankreich und Bulgarien präsentieren wir verschiedene Bereinigungen von Daten aus diesen Landern, z.B. durch eine Bayes'sche Methode, die der dendrochronologischen Kalibration von Radiokarbondaten ähnelt. Das Hauptziel dieser Arbeit ist es, Archäologlnnen die Möglichkeiten von Archäomagnetismus zu Datierungszwecken und anderen archäologischen Problemen aufzuzeigen, auf der Grundlage der Erfahrungen der Labors in Frankreich und Bulgarien. Die Entwicklungen bestimmter archäomagnetischer Untersuchungen in anderen Ländem werden ebenfalls angesprochen und zitiert.

Keywords

Archaeomagnetismbaked clayBayesian approach for calculating datesFrench and Bulgarian databasesindurationmagnetic anisotropysecular variation of the geomagnetic fieldsmoothing techniques of magnetic reference curvesthermoremanent magnetization
Type
Articles
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , 1999 , pp. 365 - 392
Copyright
Copyright © 1999 Sage Publications 

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