The archaeomagnetism of fine-grained alluvial sediment
Floodplain environments and sediments are frequently associated with human activity. The interpretation of these associations is highly dependant upon alluvial chronology. The absolute dating of recent alluvial sediment therefore has considerable archaeological value and advances our understanding of the relationships between human activities and the landscape. The main aim of this thesis is to explore the potential of archaeomagnetism to date such fine-grained alluvial sediments in a number of different contexts including both 'natural,' (e.g. overbank, levee, channel and fluvial/estuarine) and artificial depositional environments (e.g. fishponds, a millpond and a cistern or well). One of the advantages of archaeomagnetism is that it is the date of deposition, or shortly afterwards that can be determined. The study has confirmed that waterlain sediments can often exhibit a natural remanence magnetisation. Three Italian sediments yielded good remanence data, however, because of the incomplete nature of the Italian archaeomagnetic curve the assignment of dates was tentative but encouraging for the future. Only two of the British sites, Hemington Fields and Dane valley were successfully dated using archaeomagnetism
Ellis, Clare
The archaeomagnetism of fine-grained alluvial sediment. Floodplain environments and sediments are frequently associated with human activity. The interpretation of these associations is highly dependant upon alluvial chronology. The absolute dating of recent alluvial sediment therefore has considerable archaeological value and advances our understanding of the relationships between human activities and the landscape. The main aim of this thesis is to explore the potential of archaeomagnetism to date such fine-grained alluvial sediments in a number of different contexts including both 'natural,' (e.g. overbank, levee, channel and fluvial/estuarine) and artificial depositional environments (e.g. fishponds, a millpond and a cistern or well). One of the advantages of archaeomagnetism is that it is the date of deposition, or shortly afterwards that can be determined. The study has confirmed that waterlain sediments can often exhibit a natural remanence magnetisation. Three Italian sediments yielded good remanence data, however, because of the incomplete nature of the Italian archaeomagnetic curve the assignment of dates was tentative but encouraging for the future. Only two of the British sites, Hemington Fields and Dane valley were successfully dated using archaeomagnetism
fine_grained alluvial sediment floodplain environment sediment frequently associate human_activity interpretation association highly upon alluvial chronology absolute_date recent alluvial sediment therefore considerable archaeological value advance relationships human_activity landscape main_aim explore_potential date fine_grained alluvial sediment number_different context include natural channel fluvial artificial depositional environment well advantage date deposition shortly afterwards determine study confirm sediment often exhibit natural italian sediment yield good data however incomplete nature italian archaeomagnetic curve assignment date tentative encouraging future british site fields valley successfully date use