Using archaeomagnetism to improve the dating of three sites in Catalonia (NE Spain)

Archaeomagnetic dating was performed on four archaeological structures in Catalonia (NE Spain) using magnetic inclination and declination values from three reference curves: the Iberian SVC and two curves computed using the regional SCHA.DIF.3k model and the global SHA.DIF.14k. The results provide n...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cultural heritage 2018-05, Vol.31, p.152-161
Main Authors: Casas, Lluís, Auguet, Carlota, Cantoni, Gerard, Vilar, Jordi López, Guasch, Núria, Prevosti, Marta
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeomagnetic dating
Electromagnetisme
Física
Geofísica en arqueologia
Geomagnetic field modelling
Geomagnetism
Geomagnetisme
Geophysics in archaeology
Pottery
Spain
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Archaeomagnetic dating was performed on four archaeological structures in Catalonia (NE Spain) using magnetic inclination and declination values from three reference curves: the Iberian SVC and two curves computed using the regional SCHA.DIF.3k model and the global SHA.DIF.14k. The results provide new data for discussions regarding the dating of three archaeological sites from three very different periods: Roman, Medieval and Modern. In addition, some considerations were made regarding the usefulness of the three reference curves and the corresponding geomagnetic models. The Iberian SVC suggests that a Roman limekiln near Tarragona was last fired during the 1st century BC, but the archaeomagnetic models suggest it was last fired during the 1st century AD, i.e. closer to the date of the kiln infillings (2nd–3rd centuries AD). All three-reference curves date two structures from an archaeological site to the north of Barcelona to the 10th or 11th century AD. These ages match those determined using radiocarbon ages. Dating a modern limekiln near Girona with a presumed age of more than 200 years produced an inconsistent age when using the Iberian SVC, but plausible ages in the 17th or 18th centuries AD using the archaeomagnetic models. This suggests that the Iberian SVC has been superseded by the regional SCHA.DIF.3k model and the global SHA.DIF.14k model, both of which exhibit excellent dating capabilities. Older archaeological sites, including prehistoric sites, should be investigated to fully exploit and verify the potential of the new SHA.DIF.14k archaeomagnetic model.
ISSN:1296-2074
1778-3674
DOI:10.1016/j.culher.2017.11.004