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RESEARCH REPORT: MAGNETIC INVESTIGATIONS AND THE AGE OF A MEDIEVAL KILN AT KUNGAHÄLLA (SOUTH‐WEST SWEDEN) *
Author(s) -
Riisager P.,
Abrahamsen N.,
Rytter J.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
archaeometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.716
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-4754
pISSN - 0003-813X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1475-4754.2003.00136.x
Subject(s) - archaeomagnetic dating , kiln , secular variation , geology , remanence , archaeology , mineralogy , geography , earth's magnetic field , magnetization , magnetic field , geophysics , physics , quantum mechanics
The results from a magnetic survey and archaeomagnetic investigation of a medieval brick kiln at Kungahälla in Bohuslän (south‐west Sweden) are reported. Detailed magnetic total field and magnetic gradient measurements over known traces of the kiln showed marked local magnetic anomalies of up to 200 nT, revealing the rectangular shape of the kiln remains. Palaeomagnetic investigations of the remanent magnetization of 12 bricks from the kiln floor gave precise definitions of both the direction of the archaeomagnetic field [(D m , I m ) = (66.7°, 8.8°), k = 655, α 95 = 1.7°] and the palaeointensity [B m = 69.0 ± 3.6 µ T]. An archaeomagnetic date is obtained by comparing the direction of the archaeomagnetic field found in the kiln with a geocentral dipole‐transformation of the British master‐curve for secular variation. Of two possible archaeomagnetic dates ( ad 1280 ± 50 or ad 1480 ± 50), the ad 1280 ± 50 age is in good accordance with the C‐14 ages and archaeological dates as well as with direct historical evidence, whereas a c. 100 years younger TL date appears to be too young.