Archaeomagnetic study of the Late Minoan Kiln 2, stratigraphical museum extension, Knossos

Analysis of 26 oriented samples shows a clear, distinct, stable magnetic remanence in 25 of them. The magnetic carrier is probably 1 mm diameter magnetite and the remanence has thermal characteristics. On this basis, the direction of the geomagnetic field was 355.2°, 60.9° α95 = 1.7° and its intensity was 67 + 8 μT at the time when the kiln was last fired in Late Minoan IB (LMIB) times. The directional parameters are identical to those of LMIB destruction levels in central Crete and with the Minoan Plinian ash layer on Thera, but the mean direction differs from those of LMIB destruction sites in eastern Crete and those of the base surge and higher Minoan volcanic ash deposits on Thera. It is considered that the kiln was last fired at an almost identical time to the LMIB destruction levels of central Crete which appears to have occurred several years before the LMIB destruction levels in eastern Crete

Archaeology · Archaeomagnetic dating · Earth's magnetic field · Geochemistry · Geography · Kiln · Magnetic field · Magnetite · Magnetization · Mineralogy · Mining engineering · Remanence · Seismology · Volcanic ash · Volcano · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geology · Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies · Maritime and Coastal Archaeology · Paleontology

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