Archeomagnetic study of baked clays from a neolithic site in thessaly, Greece

Abstract

Abstract The study conducted for this thesis was a classical archaeomagnetic study with the aim of obtaining archaeodirectional data to enrich the poorly covered Neolithic period in the Greek directional SVCs. Burnt clay samples, from the kiln complex at the Middle Neolithic site Koutroulou Magoula located in Thessaly, Greece, were studied. The grouping of the initial NRM measurements was satisfactory, thus indicating that the majority of the samples were burnt in situ. Stepwise thermal demagnetization was employed to isolate the ChRM of the samples, which in most cases revealed one characteristic component of magnetization. Rock magnetic measurements were also employed to access the mineralogical composition and stability of the sampled material. Specifically, thermomagnetic analysis and coercivity spectrum analysis (i.e., acquisition of isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM), indicated that the samples contained mainly low-coercivity magnetic minerals (such as magnetite or titanomagnetite). Some samples did contain a small portion of high-coercivity minerals as well, most likely haematite. Overall, the experimental procedures proved to be successful and the mean directions (declination – D, inclination – I, and confidence parameter - α95) for the site were calculated: D [°]= 6.9; I [°] = 55.9; and α95 [°] = 4.5. From the mean directions calculated a final date was purposed for the site by comparing the obtained directions to the Balkan and Neolithic reference curves. Date interval (Balkan curve) = 5463 – 5200 BC; date interval (Neolithic curve) = 5488 – 5187 BC, both at a 95% confidence level. Both dating intervals are similar suggesting a reliable date was obtained.