Near east paleomagnetic secular variation recorded in sediments from the Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret)

Paleomagnetic records of declination and inclination from sediments recovered from the bed of Lake Kinneret (32.4°N, 35.7°E) have been dated by radiocarbon techniques. The sediments span the last 5000 yr. The changes in inclination down the sediment cores are more pronounced than the declination fluctuations and are repeatable between the three coring sites, which are several kilometers apart. Magnetic susceptibility logs display 13 maxima in the 5-m-long sequences, with a pronounced susceptibility minimum about 1000 yr B.P. Many of the susceptibility maxima and minima can be easily correlated between coring sites and are shown to be dominantly related to changes in sediment carbonate content. The natural remanent magnetization intensity follows a similar pattern to that of susceptibility, and the natural remanence of the Kinneret sediments is presumed to reside in detrital magnetite grains carried into the lake by the river Jordan from the basalt-rich bedrock of the rift floor and the Golan Heights. The ¹⁴C chronology is strongly supported by a pollen study in which pronounced changes in the proportion of olive pollen were interpreted as being due to extensive cultivation of olives around Galilee in the Hellenistic and Byzantine periods. The Kinneret paleosecular variation records, if accurately dated, point to a complex spatial pattern of Holocene secular variation with significant variations over distances as small as 1000–2000 km.     

Anomalous archaeomagnetic directions and site formation processes at archaeological sites in Israel

As part of a program to investigate archaeomagnetic secular variation in Israel and implications for archaeomagnetic dating, we have identified “anomalous” results that have yielded information about site formation processes. Stereonets, vector demagnetization diagrams, and sample location maps are most useful in examining stability of magnetization and consistency of archaeomagnetic directions with each other and with what would be expected from normal secular variation. A collection of examples is presented, including: strong and hard remanence due to vitrification, unstable magnetization due to lightning strikes, superimposed thermal magnetizations, chemical remagnetization, magnetization of a hearth fragment before falling, magnetization of a hot brick after falling, and mechanical deformation of an archaeomagnetic feature. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Quaternary magnetostratigraphy in Denmark

Magnetostratigraphical results from various historical, Holocene, Lateglacial and Glacial deposits from Central Jutland, Vendsyssel, the Baltic Sea and Schleswig-Holstein are illustrated and discussed. Although only a few archaeomagnetic case studies have yet been made in Denmark, magnetic datings with accuracies of about ±50 years have been obtained on mediaeval kilns by comparing with a dipole transformed modification of the British archaeomagnetic master curve. Furthermore, a study of the expected east–west orientation of some 330 Romanesque churches in Denmark seem to indicate that about 25% of these churches were magnetically orientated; thus some kind of a magnetic compass may have been in common use in the twelfth century in Denmark. Radiocarbon-dated Holocene lake sediments from lake Skanderborg reveal a distinct pattern of magnetic secular variation with fairly short time constants, which may be useful in magnetostratigraphical correlations of other lake sediments. Also Lateglacial and Early Postglacial sediments from the southern Baltic Sea show systematical magnetic patterns, whereas glacial boulder clay at the bottom shows disturbed directions, obviously moulded by the moving ice. Lateglacial Younger Yoldia clay from North Jutland shows well-developed short periodic swings as well as an extreme declination variation of some 80° to 90°, the so-called 'Nørre Lyngby declination excursion' around 14,000 B.P. A sequence of Older Yoldia clay at the same site furthermore shows significantly low inclination values, the so-called 'Rubjerg low inclination excursion' of an age between 23,000 B.P. and 40,000 B.P. Finally, a well-clustering palaeomagnetic direction from a Weichselian glacial boulder clay from Timmerhorn north of Hamburg is discussed from a hierarchical, statistical point of view.     

Holocene sediments and magnetic stratigraphy from Lakes Zug and Zurich, Switzerland

Piston cores 7 m and 6.5 m long were collected from Lakes Zug and Zurich respectively. Radiocarbon age determinations, pollen assemblage zones and varve counts indicate dates of 5000–6000 years B.P. (Zug), and 12,000–13,000 years B.P. (Zurich) for the base of the cores. Declination of the magnetic remanence varies through 70° and inclination varies through 30°. Although the correlation with the geomagnetic secular variation curve covering the last 15,000 years as determined from Lake Windermere, England (Creer et al., 1972) is not precise, the results suggest that Lake Zug and Lake Zurich sediments have been recording the broad outline of past secular variations of the earth's magnetic field. Since intensity of magnetization and susceptibility correlate markedly with lithology, a detailed sediment stratigraphy is presented. The amount and texture of the detrital input appears to be a controlling factor for the natural magnetic remanence. Intensity varies from 90 μG in zones of organic, sulphide pigmentation and those with ultra-fine laminations to 0.8 μG in impure lacustrine chalk. Susceptibility ranges from 9 μG/Oe in laminated, fine-grained glacially derived muds to 0.5 μG/Oe in impure lacustrine chalk. Intensity of magnetization also varies systematically within individual turbidites with lowest values in the coarse-grained, basal fractions. Slumped beds were identified on the basis of erratic anomalies in magnetic declination and inclination measurements.     

Archaeomagnetic investigation of two mediaeval brick constructions in north Belgium and the magnetic anisotropy of bricks

Archaeomagnetic dates derived from geomagnetic field direction records in baked materials are proposed for a mediaeval brick kiln (from inclination I and declination D) and for bricks from a brick wall (from I only) in northern Belgium. They are used to verify whether a brick chronology based on the format of bricks is feasible in Flanders. The brick kiln yielded a highly reliable average magnetization direction corresponding to an archaeomagnetic date around A.D. 1650, using the British and French geomagnetic field secular variation curves as a reference, at least half a century younger than expected from historical data. The fidelity of the geomagnetic records was controlled by measuring the magnetic anisotropy of the bricks. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) measurements demonstrate that the bricks have a shape related magnetic fabric, which is induced during the molding process. A test to control whether AMS can substitute for the anisotropy of thermo‐remanent magnetization (ATRM) failed because of induced changes during laboratory heating. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

西安地区部分古遗址考古地磁研究

通过对陕西耀州窑遗址内4个古窑,临潼兵马俑一号坑,西铜一级公路经过黄堡工地开挖的两个五代窑,以及耀州窑博物馆仓库工地内开挖的一个金代窑和一个春秋窑遗址的古地磁研究,初步得出了西安地区古地磁场变化的规律,为鉴定从春秋到金代西安地区的古遗址、古文物提供了考古地磁学上的一个粗略的标准。     

湖泊沉积物年纹层研究的古地磁学意义综述

年纹层发育的湖泊沉积物可以提供独立的、绝对定年的时间标尺,为重建高分辨率的区域古地磁场长期变化主曲线提供了难得的条件;基于长而连续的湖泊沉积物年纹层时间标尺建立的区域磁偏角和磁倾角长期变化参考曲线大大增强了岩芯对比和古地磁定年结果的精确性。此外,满足特定条件的湖泊沉积物还可以提供古地磁场强度长期变化的记录并有助于反映宇宙成因核素(如^14C、^10Be等)产生速率的变化、太阳活动等信息;目前,湖泊沉积物纹层年代学时间标尺及古地磁研究程度较高的主要是瑞典、芬兰和北美一些地区,区域古地磁场长期变化主曲线的地理分布并不均匀,因此在全球范围内寻找长序列的、连续的年纹层发育的湖泊进行古地磁研究可以更好地理解仪器观测记录以前的地磁场行为。     

Geoarchaeology and geochronology of pluvial Lake Chapala,Baja California,Mexico

Stratigraphic exposures in natural profiles, archaeological excavation units, backhoe trenches, and an uncased water well from the Laguna Seca Chapala basin in the Central Desert of Baja California (29°N, 115°W) record lake level and climate changes and provide a context for prehistoric occupation predating 9070 yr B.P. and extending through the Holocene. Lithofacies analysis points to the presence of a large (ca. 66 km²) lake prior to 9070 yr B.P., which desiccated by 7.45 ka yr B.P., promoting rapid dune growth. New dating and redefinition of stratigraphic units in the basin refutes earlier models of lacustrine history and prehistoric occupation including a proposed series of Pleistocene lake levels with associated cultural occupations. The geologic record from the Laguna Seca Chapala basin compares well with other paleoenvironmental records in southwestern North America, supporting interpretations of wet and cool conditions in Baja California during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Paleomagnetism of Palawan,Philippines

Paleomagnetic studies have been carried out on Palawan and on the island of Busuanga to the north. Results from the Cretaceous Espina Basalts of the Calatuigas Ophiolite in the South Palawan Block (SPB) pass a fold test, yield normal and reversed directions with a magnetic intensity and AF demagnetization characteristics consistent with a primary TRM. The mean direction is 293.9° and an inclination of 5.8°, with a k of 37.7 and an α₉₅ of 12.6°. This suggests that these ophiolites have moved northward and rotated counterclockwise by 66°±+13° with respect to the geocentric axial dipole (GAD) field. It also suggests that they were obducted from the south.Paleomagnetic directions from the Jurassic Busuanga Cherts and the Cretaceous Guinlo Formation from the island of Busuanga in the North Palawan Block (NPB) and from the Guinlo on the main island of Palawan are similar, fail regional fold tests, and have AF demagnetization characteristics consistent with secondary magnetization. Their inclinations are statistically indistinguishable at a 95% significance level, but variation in declination suggests differential local rotation about a vertical axis. The paleolatitude is comparable to that of regions of pervasive Cretaceous remagnetization in the South China borderland and may reflect similar remagnetization, consistent with the NPB’s proposed South China origin.     

Full-glacial — late-glacial palaeoclimate of the Southern Andes: evidence from pollen,beetle and glacial records

Palaeoecological studies carried out in the Chilean Lake District and Chilotan Archipelago (41°–43°S) record full-glacial and late-glacial pollen assemblages beginning just after 21000 and beetle assemblages after 18000, both sets extending until 10000 ¹⁴C yr BP. Pollen records indicate that Subantarctic Parkland, the vegetation of the early millennia of record, changed after about 14000 yr BP to become open woodland and later North Patagonian Evergreen Forest. Assemblages of plants and beetles, responding more or less in unison to a strong rise in temperature (≥ 6°C), behaved in accord at around 14000 until 13000–12500 yr BP, the beetle fauna displaying a marked increase in obligate forest types. During full-glacial conditions (17400–16100 and 15300 and 14400 yr BP) and in the late-glacial interval (after about 13000 yr BP), however, climate evidently coerced populations dissimilarly, the pollen sequence showing an increase in plant taxa indicative of colder climate, whereas the beetle fauna underwent little or no variation. Contrasting climate modes implied by plants and beetles may be attributed to differential responses to apparent low-order temperature changes (≤ 2–3°C).     

Reliability of Relative Paleointensity Recorded in Chinese Loess–Paleosol Sediments

A detailed paleomagnetic and rock-magnetic investigation spanning loess L7 to paleosol S8 has been carried out at the Baoji and Xifeng sections. Results of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility confirm that the studied loess–paleosol sediments retain primary sedimentary fabrics. Stepwise thermal demagnetization shows that two well-defined magnetization components can be isolated from both loess and paleosol specimens. A low-temperature component, isolated between 100°C and 200°C, is consistent with the present geomagnetic field direction, and a high-temperature component, isolated between 200–300°C and 620–680°C, includes clearly normal and reversed polarities. Isothermal remanent magnetization and thermomagnetic analyses indicate that characteristic remanent magnetization is mainly carried by magnetite and hematite. The Day plot, together with the stratigraphic variations of rock-magnetic parameters, shows that the uniformity of magnetic mineralogy and grain size fulfills the criteria for relative paleointensity (RPI) studies. RPI records have been constructed using natural remanent magnetization (NRM) intensity after thermal demagnetization at 300°C normalized by low-frequency magnetic susceptibility (NRM300/χ). The results show that the RPI record from the Baoji section, where pedogenesis is quite weak, is compatible with the stacked PISO-1500 paleointensity record, suggesting that it might reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. The RPI record from the Xifeng section, where pedogenesis is rather strong, indicates a clear dissimilarity with the stacked PISO-1500 paleointensity record, implying that it does not reflect the paleointensity variation of the geomagnetic field. Our new results show that the NRM300/χ from the strongly pedogenetic paleosols does not completely eliminate the pedogenetic (climatic) influence, so it might be unsuitable for a reliable paleointensity study.     

近两千年来的地磁极章动

地磁场的缓慢变化(周期在一年以上)称为地磁场的长期变。由于长期变不仅与地磁场起源的理论关系极大,而且对于古地磁学中的基本假定(轴向地心偶极子假说)有着头等重要的意义,因此,近来颇受重视,讨论相当热烈。     

Geoarchaeological investigations at the upper Paleolithic site of Kamihoronai‐Moi,Hokkaido, Japan

In order to better understand modern human behavioral variability in Hokkaido, Japan, we consider the geoarchaeology of the Kamihoronai‐Moi site in terms of its geochronology, stratigraphy, depositional environments, and post‐depositional disturbances. A Paleolithic component is stratigraphically situated between the Eniwa‐a (15,000–17,000 ¹⁴C yr B.P.) and the Tarumae‐d (8000–9000 ¹⁴C yr B.P.) tephras. Moreover, six AMS ¹⁴C ages on charcoal from a Pleistocene‐aged hearth feature are between 14,400 and 14,800 ¹⁴C yr B.P. Quantitative examinations of patterns in artifact distributions show a low degree of vertical and horizontal displacement of chipped‐stone artifacts, suggesting that post‐depositional movement of the cultural material was insufficient to disrupt the original pattern of artifact distribution. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Paleomagnetic Investigation of the Bonneville Alloformation, Lake Bonneville, Utah

Paleomagnetic secular variation in a portion of the Bonneville Alloformation is compared with secular variation in lacustrine sediments in the Mono Basin, California, and with secular variation in Lake Lahontan sediments in the northwestern Great Basin. The comparison places an age of about 18,000 yr B.P., and a span of 1000 to 3000 yr, on part of a transgressive stage of Lake Bonneville near Delta, Utah, that is coeval with a wet period in the Lahontan Basin.     

Lateglacial,early and middle holocene environments,human occupation,and resource use in the Atacama (Northern Chile)

Paleoenvironmental data from the Atacama Altiplano (21°–24°S) indicate that water, vegetation and animal resources were more abundant during lateglacial and early Holocene times than today. The rate of precipitation increased above 4000 m elevation to 400–500 mm/yr compared to the present 200 mm/yr. Dry conditions prevailed below 3500 m. Evidence of Paleoindian habitation is still missing, even though there is no evidence for environmental prohibitors during lateglacial time. The early Archaic hunters (10,820 yr B.P.-ca. 8500 yr B.P.) inhabited the Altiplano (high Puna) and its western slope, where water was available due to higher river runoff from the Altiplano, and the resources in different elevation zones were accessible. Natural resources decreased significantly during the middle Archaic period (8500-ca. 5000 yr B.P.). Lakes receded to today's levels, pedogenesis in the Altiplano terminated, and human activities were restricted to the most stable sites in the Río Lao and the Río Purifica catchments north of 23°S. The less stable oases south of 23°S (Salar de Atacama and Punta Negra) were abandoned. The climatic changes are best explained by shifts of the (sub)tropical circulation. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rock‐Magnetic and Archaeointensity Investigation of Pottery and a Burned Floor at the Tzintzuntzan Archaeological Site,Western Mexico

We report a detailed rock‐magnetic and archaeointensity analysis of four pottery fragments and a burned floor recovered from the Tzintzuntzan archaeological site in western Mexico. Results from rock‐magnetic experiments (x‐T curves and first‐order reversal curves [FORC] diagrams) indicate the suitability of most of these materials as faithful geomagnetic field recorders. Potsherds were archaeomagnetically dated by comparing their mean intensity values against the paleosecular variation curve CALS3k, suggesting A.D. 600–941 as the most probable age range. This is younger than ¹⁴C‐dated charcoal from the same burned floor (A.D. 1294–1426). More precise age estimates will require the use of the full geomagnetic vector (declination, inclination, and intensity). Multiple reheatings of the ceramic pieces, evidenced as secondary components in Zijderveld plots, could reflect multiple heating of these objects, perhaps from use as incense burners. Our study demonstrates the potential of archaeomagnetic analysis to both date burned ceramics recovered in situ and provide insight into their use‐history.     

Pollen and radiolarian records from deep-sea core RC14-103: Climatic reconstructions of northeast Japan and Northwest Pacific for the last 90,000 years

Using modern pollen and radiolarian distributions in sediments from the northwest Pacific and seas adjacent to Japan to interpret floral and faunal changes in core RC14-103 (44°02′N, 152°56′E), we recognize two major responses of the biota of eastern Hokkaido and the northwest Pacific to climatic changes since the last interglaciation. Relatively stable glacial environments (～80,000–20,000 yr B.P.) were basically cold and wet (<4°C and ～1000 mm mean annual temperature and precipitation, respectively) with boreal conijers and tundra/park-tundra on Hokkaido, and cool (<16°C) summer and cold (<1.0°C) winter surface temperatures offshore. Contrasting nonglacial environments (～10,000–4000 yr B.P.) were warm and humid (>8°C and >1200 mm mean annual temperature and precipitation, respectively), supporting climax broadleaf deciduous forest with Quercus and Ulmus/Zelkova, with surface waters in the northwest Pacific characterized by warm (>1.5°C) winter and cold (10.4°–14.3°C) summer temperatures. Climatic evidence from RC14-103 shows a high degree of local and regional variation within the context of global climatic change. Correlative ocean and land records provide the detailed input necessary to assess local/regional responses to variations in other key elements (i.e., solar radiation, monsoonal variations) of the northeast Asian climate system.     

The robustness of the Zr-in-rutile and Ti-in-zircon thermometers during high-temperature metamorphism (Ivrea-Verbano Zone, northern Italy)

This study investigates the behaviour of the Zr-in-rutile and Ti-in-zircon thermometers in granulite facies metapelites from the Ivrea-Verbano Zone lower crustal section. U–Pb ages of zircon constrain the timing of regional amphibolite–granulite facies metamorphism to 316 ± 3 Ma and record zircon recrystallisation and resetting of U–Pb ages at 276 ± 4 Ma and 258 ± 3 Ma. Zr-in-rutile thermometry records peak contact metamorphic temperatures related to intrusion of mafic magmatic rocks and gives peak temperatures between 900–930 °C and 1,000–1,020 °C that are consistent with the geological settings of the samples. Ti-in-zircon temperatures of 700–800 °C and 810–870 °C record growth or re-equilibration of zircon after cooling from peak temperatures. Ti-in-quartz thermometry for one sample records both peak and retrograde temperatures. Some rutiles in all samples record resetting of Zr-in-rutile temperatures at ~750–800 °C. Electron microprobe profiles across individual rutiles demonstrate that Zr expulsion occurred by recrystallisation rather than by diffusive exchange. Exsolution of small needles of baddelyite or zircon from rutile is an important method of Zr redistribution, but results in no net Zr loss from the grain. The demonstration that Zr-in-rutile thermometry can robustly record peak temperatures that are not recorded by any other thermometer emphasises the relevance of this technique to investigating the evolution of high-grade metamorphic terranes, such as those that characterise the lower crust.     

Palaeomagnetism of Cretaceous carbonates from the northwestern part of the Dinaric fold belt

From the island of Cres and the fold belt north of autochthonous Istria 260 light-grey Cretaceous limestone samples were collected at 25 localities. Stepwise thermal demagnetization was employed to clean the remanence up to max. 525 °C. About two-thirds of the samples were successfully cleaned and the locality means were calculated from the characteristic remanences. The locality means significantly deviate from the present field direction both before and after tectonic correction: the mean inclination is about 15° lower than the present inclination and the declination is rotated counterclockwise i.e. it basically fits the pattern so far observed in the Periadriatic region.Unfolding barely influences the scatter of the directions (Cres: D = 308°, I = 45°, k = 26, α₉₅ = 13.3°, before tilt correction, and D = 330°, I = 48°, k = 33, α₉₅ = 11.9° after tilt correction; fold belt north of autochthonous Istria: D = 309°, I = 48°, k = 17, α₉₅ = 11.9°, before tilt correction, and D = 336°, I = 41°, k =13, α₉₅ = 14.0°, after tilt correction. In view of the inconclusive fold test, the magnetization cannot be dated precisely and thus does not yield sufficient information concerning possible relative movements between autochthonous Istria-Gargano and the fold belt studied. Nevertheless, the counterclockwise rotated declinations of the area studied are in contrast with the clockwise rotated declinations of the Ionian Zone of Western Greece. The large angular difference in declination between two parts of the Dalmatian-Ionian Zone with similar tectonic trends casts doubt on the continuity of the fold belt.     

Late-glacial-Holocene climate of the lake district of Chile

Pollen evidence from a 350-cm section of a fen in a moraine belt at Rucañancu (39°33′S, 72°18′W) bears on the controversy regarding interpretation of late-glacial and Holocene climate in midlatitude Chile. Earlier pollen studies, indicating a cooling trend between approximately 11,000 and 10,000 yr B.P., disagreed with observations of glacier fluctuations which show continuous glacier wastage and, by inference, warming after 12,500 yr B.P. and possibly earlier, up until Neoglaciation, beginning after 6850 yr B.P. Fossil beetle assemblage data in this time range support the interpretation of climate made from the observed glacier behavior. At Rucañancu, a pollen assemblage containing upper montane podocarp (Podocarpus andinus) in quantities reaching 34% and dating between 10,440 and 10,000 yr B.P. implies a cold climate with summer temperatures possibly 5–8°C lower than today's. Holocene warming began afterward, later than the glacier and beetle records indicate, and continued until at least 8350 yr B.P., as suggested by the sequence of assemblages dominated by Myrtaceae, by Aextoxicon punctatum, and by Gramineae. A subsequent assemblage of Nothofagus obliqua type implies an increase of moisture until 6960 yr B.P., following which N. dombeyi type, under a cool and humid Neoglacial climate, became dominant.