2005/04/05 by David Maki · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Archaeology #Archaeomagnetic dating #Earth's magnetic field #Earthquake Detection and Analysis #Environmental magnetism #Excavation #Geography #Geology #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Geophysical and Geoelectrical Methods #Geophysics #Hearth #Lightning (connector) #Magnetic field #Magnetization #Mineralogy #Paleontology #Physics #Remanence #Rock magnetism #Sediment
paper · doi:10.1002/gea.20059
openalex publication_date 2005/04/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/11
Abstract Techniques of environmental magnetism were used to examine soil samples from a North American archaeological site in an effort to determine the source of magnetic field gradient anomalies. Testing revealed the source of one anomaly to be lightning‐induced remanent magnetization (LIRM). This anomaly had initially been identified as a possible archaeological feature, but excavations were unable to identify a visible source. LIRM appears to be a relatively common source of anomalous signal on archaeological sites and may often be misinterpreted in magnetic imagery. Thermoremanent magnetization (TRM) was also documented and quantified in soil from archaeological hearths at the site, as were changes in the ferrimagnetic mineral concentration and coercivity spectra resulting from high‐temperature enhancement within the hearths. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.