Definition: Archaeomagnetic dating is a method of assigning a date to a fireplace or burned earth area using the earth's magnetic field. Superheating rock or clay (hotter than firing a prehistoric ceramic) aligns the iron mineral within the material to the current magnetic north pole. Since the pole has wandered over time, comparing the alignment of the iron mineral particles to the master curve of the North Pole provides a usable date for reference.
The archaeological dating technique of archaeomagnetic dating was introduced to the field of archaeology in the 1960s by researcher Robert Dubois.
Bellomo, Randy V. 1993 A methodological approach for identifying archaeological evidence of fire resulting from human activities. Journal of Archaeological Science 20525-553.
Eighmy, Jeffrey L., Randall S. Taylor, and Pamela Y. Klein 1993 Archaeomagnetic dating on the Great Plains. Plains Anthropologist 38(142):21-50.
Eighmy, Jeffrey L. 1994 Archaeomagnetic dating at Pueblo Grande. Journal of Archaeological Science 21445-453.
Gose, Wulf A. 2000 Palaeomagnetic studies of burned rocks. Journal of Archaeological Science 27409-421.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
The archaeological dating technique of archaeomagnetic dating was introduced to the field of archaeology in the 1960s by researcher Robert Dubois.
Sources
Eighmy, Jeffrey L. and Jerry B. Howard 1991 Direct dating of prehistoric canal sediments using archaeomagnetism. American Antiquity 56(1):88-102.Bellomo, Randy V. 1993 A methodological approach for identifying archaeological evidence of fire resulting from human activities. Journal of Archaeological Science 20525-553.
Eighmy, Jeffrey L., Randall S. Taylor, and Pamela Y. Klein 1993 Archaeomagnetic dating on the Great Plains. Plains Anthropologist 38(142):21-50.
Eighmy, Jeffrey L. 1994 Archaeomagnetic dating at Pueblo Grande. Journal of Archaeological Science 21445-453.
Gose, Wulf A. 2000 Palaeomagnetic studies of burned rocks. Journal of Archaeological Science 27409-421.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
Also Known As: Paleomagnetic dating
