Archaeomagnetic dating : investigating new materials and techniques
This thesis describes the application of archaeomagnetic techniques to the study of archaeological materials from Britain and China. It also explores the compilation and construction of the archaeomagnetic calibration curve, with particular reference to British data. One of the primary objectives of this study has been to extend the range of materials dated by archaeomagnetism to include waterlain sediments. Over 30 different sediments from a wide variety of archaeological environments were investigated by archaeomagnetic methods. Information on the environment of deposition was provided by measurements of magnetic fabric, while isothermal remanent magnetisation determinations were used to identify the magnetic minerals present. The results have been compared with the archaeological evidence and in many cases good correspondence has been found. It has been possible to make some general inferences as to which environments are most likely to yield sediments datable by archaeomagnetism. Similar measurement techniques were used to study six, dated, fired structures from the Xi'an area of Shaanxi Province, China. Together with other archaeomagnetic data published for this vicinity, these measurements provided the
Batt, Catherine Mary
Archaeology
Archaeomagnetic dating : investigating new materials and techniques. This thesis describes the application of archaeomagnetic techniques to the study of archaeological materials from Britain and China. It also explores the compilation and construction of the archaeomagnetic calibration curve, with particular reference to British data. One of the primary objectives of this study has been to extend the range of materials dated by archaeomagnetism to include waterlain sediments. Over 30 different sediments from a wide variety of archaeological environments were investigated by archaeomagnetic methods. Information on the environment of deposition was provided by measurements of magnetic fabric, while isothermal remanent magnetisation determinations were used to identify the magnetic minerals present. The results have been compared with the archaeological evidence and in many cases good correspondence has been found. It has been possible to make some general inferences as to which environments are most likely to yield sediments datable by archaeomagnetism. Similar measurement techniques were used to study six, dated, fired structures from the Xi'an area of Shaanxi Province, China. Together with other archaeomagnetic data published for this vicinity, these measurements provided the
archaeomagnetic dating investigate new material_technique describes application archaeomagnetic technique study archaeological_material britain china also_explore compilation construction archaeomagnetic calibration curve particular_reference british data primary_objective study extend range material_date include different sediment wide_variety archaeological environment investigate archaeomagnetic method information environment deposition provide measurement magnetic fabric determination use_identify magnetic mineral present compare archaeological_evidence many_case good correspondence find possible make general inference environment likely yield sediment datable similar measurement technique_use study date fire structure area province china together archaeomagnetic data publish vicinity measurement provide