Obtaining archaeointensity data from British Neolithic pottery

A feasibility study

Bibliographic Data

ID13097024
AuthorsMegan L Allington (0000-0002-6634-7133, Lund University, corresponding author), C M Batt (0000-0001-8629-2718, University of Bradford), Mimi J Hill (University of Liverpool), Andréas Nilsson (0000-0003-4055-0309, Lund University), Andrew J Biggin (0000-0003-4164-5924, University of Liverpool), Nick Card (0000-0001-5094-7313, University of the Highlands and Islands)
Year2021
Volume37
Pages102895-102895
Publication date2021-03-12
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Archaeological Science Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2352-409X • E-ISSN: 2352-4103
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102895
OpenAlexW3138276435
LanguageEN
References cited47

There is a significant lack of geomagnetic field strength (archaeointensity) measurements for many archaeological time periods in the United Kingdom (UK). This not only makes past geomagnetic secular variation difficult to model but also limits the development of archaeointensity dating. This paper presents the first archaeointensity study on UK Neolithic material. In this study, twenty-five sherds of Neolithic Grooved Ware pottery from the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney, UK, some with direct radiocarbon dates, were subjected to a full archaeomagnetic investigation with the aim of increasing the amount of archaeointensity data for the UK. Both thermal Thellier and microwave palaeointensity experiments were used to determine which technique would be most suitable for British Neolithic pottery. Three successful archaeointensity results between 35 and 40μT were obtained using thermal Thellier method, which is consistent with the limited data available within a 15° radius and geomagnetic field model predictions from the same time. We separated the results into four different types with an intention of explaining the behaviours that determine the likelihood of achieving an acceptable archaeointensity estimate. The feasibility of obtaining geomagnetic field strength information during the UK Neolithic from ceramics has been demonstrated and the results provide a solid basis for improving our knowledge of geomagnetic secular variation during archaeological time in Britain

Archaeology · Archaeomagnetic dating · Earth's magnetic field · Geography · Geomagnetic secular variation · Geomagnetic storm · Magnetic field · Pottery · Radiocarbon dating · Secular variation · Variation (astronomy · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies · Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods · Geology · Geophysics

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