Ancient bricks inscribed with the names of Mesopotamian kings have provided valuable insights into a puzzling anomaly in Earth’s magnetic field 3,000 years ago, as per a recent study involving researchers from University College London.
The team aims to enhance the understanding of Earth’s magnetic field and improve the dating of artifacts that were previously difficult to date by utilizing “archaeomagnetism,” a method that seeks magnetic field signatures in archaeological objects.
Co-author Professor Mark Altaweel (UCL Institute of Archaeology) stated, “In ancient Mesopotamia, we often rely on dating techniques like radiocarbon dating to establish a sense of chronology. However, common cultural remains such as bricks and ceramics are typically challenging to date due to the absence of organic material. This research now establishes an important dating reference point that enables others to utilize archaeomagnetism for absolute dating.”
Over time, Earth’s magnetic field fluctuates in strength, leaving a distinct signature on heat-sensitive minerals.
The team examined the latent magnetic signature in iron oxide mineral grains found in 32 clay bricks from various archaeological sites across Mesopotamia, which now corresponds to modern-day Iraq. The minerals retained the strength of the planet’s magnetic field when the bricks were initially fired thousands of years ago.
2023-12-19 08:41:03
Original from phys.org rnrn