Open AccessGeomagnetic field magnitude variations in Peru derived from archaeological ceramics dated by thermoluminescence
Author(s) -
Gunn N. M.,
Murray A. S.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
geophysical journal of the royal astronomical society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0016-8009
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.1980.tb04860.x
Subject(s) - archaeomagnetic dating , magnitude (astronomy) , earth's magnetic field , thermoluminescence , geology , geomagnetic secular variation , secular variation , maxima , archaeology , seismology , geodesy , geophysics , geography , geomagnetic storm , history , magnetic field , astronomy , physics , irradiation , quantum mechanics , performance art , nuclear physics , art history
Summary. The geomagnetic field magnitude variations in Peru during the last 2000 yr have been determined from archaeological ceramics collected by the Oxford and Liverpool Universities Archaeomagnetic Expedition of 1975. Shaw's method of palaeomagnitude determination was used in conjunction with thermoluminescence dating. An overall decrease in field magnitude was observed, but with clear maxima near AD 900 and 1400, and minima near AD 600 and 1100. Comparison with data from elsewhere would suggest that variations with submillennium periods are real but not contemporaneous over the globe. This underlines the importance of good absolute dating in archaeomagnetic studies and the cautious use of averaging and smoothing procedures.