ARCHAEOMAGNETIC STUDIES IN KILNS FROM N. GREECE

Abstract

Archaeomagnetism combines the magnetic properties of baked materials with Archaeology. The archaeomagnetic method can be applied to any kind of permanent - in situ or displaced- burnt structures, such as kilns, ovens, hearths, burnt floors, tiles, bricks and pottery fragments, the latter for intensity measurements only. In this study we present the latest archaeomagnetic results from archaeological sites which are distributed in N. Greece (Polymylos, Sani, Thesssaloniki). The Natural Remanent Magnetization (NRM) and the magnetic susceptibility of the samples have been initially measured. The samples have been subjected to magnetic cleaning (AF and Thermal demagnetizations) and this procedure revealed the characteristic component of the ancient magnetic field. Rock magnetic experiments such as acquisition of the Isothermal Remanent Magnetization (IRM) and thermomagnetic analysis have been performed in pilot samples in order to identify the main magnetic carriers. Finally the secular variation curves for Greece and the SCHA.DIF.3K model were used in order to date these archaeological structures. This dating improved or modified the estimated archaeological ages.