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.     

Archaeomagnetic record from Modoc Rock Shelter,Illinois, for the time range of 6200–8900 B.P.

The Modoc Rock Shelter is located in Randolph County, Illinois at the base of the Mississippi River bluffs, and is documented as having human occupation from 9000 B.P. to as recently as 800 B.P. Two hundred twenty-eight archaeomagnetic samples were collected from 28 surface hearths in two different excavation areas. Pilot samples from each hearth were A.F. demagnetized to 100 mT to establish the optimum demagnetization level for all samples from a specific hearth. The magnetic directions for individual hearths after appropriate demagnetization have high precision with α-95 values between 2° and 4°. Independent inclination and declination records from the two excavations, which were correlated with conventional radiocarbon dates, overlap in time and show good correlation. The composite record shows a prominent eastward declination swing of 15° from 6500–7800 yr B.P., followed by a westward swing of equal magnitude from 8000–8900 yr B.P. The inclination record is less varied. This secular variation record correlates well with soft sediment records from lakes in the north-central United States and is perhaps the longest and oldest archaeomagnetic secular variation record from a single site in North America. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

黄河兰州段河水搬运花粉与累积花粉组合特征初步研究*

对从2011年9月至2012年6月在黄河兰州段采集的24个水样进行了孢粉分析,并探讨了河流搬运花粉组合随时间变化的特征以及累积花粉的组合状况。结果表明,河流中花粉组合和花粉浓度随时间具有明显的变化,春夏时段花粉组合以榆属、杨属、柳属和桦属等乔木花粉为主,秋冬时段以蒿属、藜科等草本花粉为主,且花粉浓度和河流含沙量有较好的正相关关系。根据河水流量与花粉浓度积分计算得出样品采集时段的累积花粉通量,其组合特征与各时间点的花粉组合具有明显的差异,表明单个时间节点花粉组合由于影响因素较多不能够反映流域植被状况,而累积花粉组合可以指示泥沙和花粉源区的植被状况。本研究中黄河兰州段河水搬运花粉可能指示黄河兰州段以上至刘家峡水库之间黄土区的植被情况。     

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。     

Sample site variation in settling velocity distribution subpopulations using curve dissection analysis

ABSTRACT It is generally believed that grain-size distributions can be broken down into subpopulations which may be characteristic of a specific mode of transport, some source signature, or the nature of sediment packing in the depositional process. This paper evaluates the variation at a sample site of subpopulation parameters of settling velocity distributions derived using a non-linear least squares algorithm for curve dissection. Results incorporate artificial samples constructed using spherical glass beads in the 125-840 μm range and natural samples collected as close as possible from a single sedimentation unit in marine, fluvial and aeolian environments. If subpopulation distributions from the same sample site are compared then 90% of artificial bead samples and 65% of natural sands have cumulative curves diverging from each other by less than 20%. Similarity in means and standard deviations of subpopulations collected at the same site was not easily obtained. However, if it is important to be able to identify a specific process or source signature correctly, then 86% of all subpopulations from the same natural sample site grouped together. If subpopulations of grain-size distributions are to be used for process identification, it is advisable to analyse more than one sample from a site.     

Magnetic properties as indicators of pedogenic and pyrogenic processes at the Upper Paleolithic site of Kostenki 14

In geoarchaeological studies, there is an issue with distinguishing between natural and anthropogenic signals in pedological paleoarchives. With the pedostratigraphy of the Upper Paleolithic site of Kostenki 14, this issue is reflected by problems with the determination of features of pedogenic and pyrogenic processes. This issue was addressed by means of a thorough analysis of the magnetic properties of paleosols accompanied by micromorphological observations. Most of the humic samples were shown to be a result of pedogenesis, but two samples (a Paleolithic hearth sample and a sample from paleosol IIc) had features of intensely burnt material. The difference in the typical intensity of large-scale (natural or human-induced) and local-scale anthropogenic fire allowed for suggesting that the magnetic properties of the burnt sample were the result of an anthropogenically controlled fire event, that is, a hearth. This study shows that the magnetic properties of paleosols can be used to differentiate anthropogenic activity, in particular—burning, from pedogenic processes. This indicator is especially helpful in finding disturbed combustion features when the hearth structure is lost. This methodology used to demonstrate the local human-induced pyrogenic effect at the Upper Paleolithic site can contribute to the discussion of the niche construction effect of human activities in the Pleistocene.     

Improved accuracy of U-Pb zircon dating by selection of more concordant fractions using a high gradient magnetic separation technique

A loop of soft iron wire or a paper clip or a ferromagnetic grid mounted between the poles of an electromagnet picks up and allows further magnetic separation of zircons previously found to be non-magnetic on a Frantz Isodynamic Separator. Tests on previously analysed samples indicate that most such zircons that are fairly discordant (say ~10%) can be picked up and isolated from associated grains that are more concordant. Tests on new samples indicate that even when most grains can be picked up the last few percent of the sample contain less uranium, and are more concordant than the bulk sample.The degree of discordance is the dominant factor affecting the uncertainty of U-Pb zircon ages both because of the error amplification in projections, and because the assumption of a simple two-stage system may not be valid. Only by eliminating or reducing discordance can errors approaching the uncertainty in a single analysis, say ±2 m.y. for 2700 m.y. rocks, be achieved.Rutile normally concentrated with zircon as non-magnetic has been successfully removed from a small amount of low uranium zircon, using the high intensity separation technique.     

High-resolution chronology for the Mesoamerican urban center of Teotihuacan derived from Bayesian statistics of radiocarbon and archaeological data

A high-resolution ¹⁴C chronology for the Teopancazco archaeological site in the Teotihuacan urban center of Mesoamerica was generated by Bayesian analysis of 33 radiocarbon dates and detailed archaeological information related to occupation stratigraphy, pottery and archaeomagnetic dates. The calibrated intervals obtained using the Bayesian model are up to ca. 70% shorter than those obtained with individual calibrations. For some samples, this is a consequence of plateaus in the part of the calibration curve covered by the sample dates (2500 to 1450 ¹⁴C yr BP). Effects of outliers are explored by comparing the results from a Bayesian model that incorporates radiocarbon data for two outlier samples with the same model excluding them. The effect of outliers was more significant than expected. Inclusion of radiocarbon dates from two altered contexts, 500 ¹⁴C yr earlier than those for the first occupational phase, results in ages calculated by the model earlier than the archaeological records. The Bayesian chronology excluding these outliers separates the first two Teopancazco occupational phases and suggests that ending of the Xolalpan phase was around cal AD 550, 100 yr earlier than previously estimated and in accordance with previously reported archaeomagnetic dates from lime plasters for the same site.     

河流砂碎屑统计方法的对比实验研究

碎屑统计是定量研究陆源碎屑沉积物常用的方法,其中最具代表性的有四种:全颗粒法、Glagolev-Chayes法、Gazzi-Dickinson法和全面积法。目前对以上方法的差异性缺乏定量研究,其统计的颗粒数各不相同（从300颗到500颗不等）,也缺乏样品分选程度和颗粒含量对统计结果影响的探讨。选取雅鲁藏布江干流的两个河流砂样品,分别用四种方法进行定量颗粒统计,并结合Matlab模拟统计开展实验。将全面积法统计结果作为最能够代表样品真实成分的标准,结果表明,Glagolev-Chayes法与全面积法的统计结果相近,全颗粒法与全面积法的偏差较大;对于分选越差的样品,全颗粒法与全面积法统计结果的差异性越大;统计颗粒数达到384颗时满足95%的置信度;在统计过程中应重点关注含量小于10%的颗粒类型,若岩屑总量小于10%时建议不再进行Lv/Lm/Ls投图。在计算河流通量时建议采用全面积法或Glagolev-Chayes法进行碎屑统计。     

Subglacial comminution in the deforming bed: Inferences from SEM analysis

This study investigates the variations in erosional processes beneath Briksdalsbreen; a Norwegian valley glacier, with a thin coarse grained deforming bed. The subglacial zone was investigated in situ, close to the central glacial flow line (Site A) and close to the valley wall (Site B), via boreholes. The till was collected using two different sediment samplers and the bed was examined using a borehole video camera. In order to evaluate how representative borehole sampling was of the subglacial environment, the results from in situ subglacial samples were compared with random samples taken from an exposed subglacial surface in the glacier foreland, as well as a sample taken from the site after glacier retreat. The results indicated that the texture of the exposed subglacial surface was similar to in situ samples from subglacial Site B (close to the valley wall), and that the samples collected with the ‘small’ sediment sampler had the closest fit. SEM analysis revealed eroded quartz grains at both sites as a result of rotation (abrasion) and fracture. The samples from close to the valley wall were very poorly sorted, with evidence for rounding and preservation of pre-weathered surfaces, which suggest that a relatively simple pattern of erosion from crushing to rotation dominated. However, the till from the centre of the glacier was better sorted, more angular, and with few pre-weathered surfaces. We suggest that this results from a more complex glacial erosional history associated with greater strain and longer residence time within the deforming layer. When compared with other deformation tills, it was confirmed that there is a relationship between grain size and erosional style. Clay-rich tills show little comminution, fine sand-rich tills generate a significant silt component, whilst the coarse sand-rich tills at Briksdalsbreen showed complex deformational styles but no significant silt component.     

沙漠边缘厚层黄土上部光释光测年的初步研究*

对处于中国西北黄土高原沙漠边缘曹岘厚层黄土剖面上部进行了光释光年代初步研究。实验结果表明,45~63μm石英颗粒的光释光信号以快组分为主,适合应用单片再生剂量法(SAR)测年。在自然和再生剂量预热温度为260℃持续10秒,检测剂量预热温度为160℃持续0秒的条件下,石英单片再生剂量法获得的光释光年龄随样品深度而增加。但是,剖面底部S₁古土壤和L₂顶部黄土样品的光释光年龄仅为69.1±5.5ka和72.0±4.6ka,表现出30 ％ ~50 ％ 的年龄低估。利用多片再生剂量法(MAR)得到的年龄与SAR方法所得年龄无显著差异,即出现了类似的年龄低估现象。在20.1~18.8ka时段内,该剖面的沉积速率超过500cm/ka。末次冰盛期的寒冷气候,与沙漠的距离以及近邻黄河的地貌特点共同造成了如此高的沉积速率。     

脉冲地震动中竖向加速度对场地液化的影响

为研究近断层脉冲地震动中竖向加速度对砂土场地液化的影响,基于有限元平台OpenSees开发的边界面塑性本构模型,建立了动单剪单元试验模型和饱和砂土三维有限元模型。选取台湾Chi-Chi地震中10条具有速度脉冲特性的地震波,对比分析了水平双向脉冲波与三向脉冲波作用下土柱竖向位移、循环应力比、孔压比及等效循环周数的差异性,继而明确了脉冲地震动中竖向加速度对砂土液化的影响规律。研究表明,三向脉冲地震波中竖向加速度分量对场地永久位移值影响较小,但使永久位移的发展持时明显增大;土柱循环应力比受竖向地震动影响较小,因此分析脉冲地震动对场地剪切特性的影响时,可将三向脉冲地震动简化为水平双向地震动;考虑竖向地震动的三向脉冲地震波引起的孔压比变化幅度较大,孔压消散时间较长;三向脉冲地震波对应的等效循环周数较大,地震动发展持时长,可认为竖向加速度对场地液化有促进作用。     

基于AMSR2被动微波积雪参量高精度反演方法研究

以新疆为研究区域建立了被动微波遥感积雪深度高精度反演模型,采用高空间和时间分辨率AM SR2被动微波遥感数据(2012年11月-2015年3月逐日数据),结合研究区域海拔高度、坡度、坡向、沙漠,荒漠和地表粗糙度等地形、地貌特征,考虑冰川、水体、林地等地表覆盖类型和不同季节的新雪、干雪和湿雪等积雪属性的微波辐射特征,以决策树阈值法为基础,通过采集样本分类建立起多种雪深判识阈值,在此基础上建立AMSR2高精度积雪深度反演综合模型,分类分析不稳定积雪和冰川信息,从而实现雪深在60 cm以内的积雪深度AMSR2反演的主要原理、思路及方法,并对模型的反演结果跟台站实测或者野外观测积雪值以时间和空间角度进行检验.结果表明:该综合模型能够定量判识研究区域复杂地形地貌条件下的1~60 cm积雪厚度,检验的复相关系数为0.74~0.88,均方根误差为2.92~6.14 cm,平均绝对偏差指数为3~4 cm,雪深误差5 cm的精度为91%~94%,雪深误差2.5cm的精度为81%~87%.     

Intercomparison of PIXE and ICP‐AES Analyses of Aeolian Dust from Owens (Dry) Lake,California

Particle‐induced X‐ray emission (PIXE) and ICP‐AES can be combined to obtain a wider range of detected elements, augment previous data and/or to verify measured concentrations of heavy and trace metals in geological samples. Intercomparison of data sets generated by multiple techniques is challenging due to the differing processes and methods of each technique. Here, we compare elemental data obtained by both techniques for aeolian dust from Owens (Dry) Lake, California. Nineteen elements were detected by PIXE, sixteen by ICP‐AES and ten elements were detected by both techniques. Statistical analyses of data set groupings illustrated which parameters differed significantly between PIXE and ICP‐AES. Relative variation (%) showed that PIXE gave higher concentrations than ICP‐AES for Al, As, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Ni, Sr, Ti and Zn in all samples. For As, Cu, Sr and Zn, relative variation was variable between the techniques. PIXE detection limits exceeded ICP‐AES concentrations for Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb and Mo. Low ICP‐AES percentage recoveries of Al, Fe, K, Mn and Ti for NIST SRM 2710 indicated incomplete dissolution during digestion (EPA Method 3050B), since elements were bound in silicate structures. Variability between the two data sets is explained by differences between analytical techniques, sample preparation methods and/or variability in sample matrices.     

Geochemistry of till in perennially frozen terrain of the Canadian shield— application to prospecting

Shilts, W. W. 1977 06 01: Geochemistry of till in perennially frozen terrain of the Canadian shield - application to prospecting.
Geomorphological (drumlins, ribbed moraine) and geochemical features associated with till in the District of Keewatin are arranged in belts or dispersal trains paralleling the main direction of ice flow. Both types of features can be related to chemical and physical characteristics of specific types of source rocks.
For dispersal studies in perennially frozen terrain, till samples were collected from mudboils at spacings of approximately 1.6 km. The texture of till samples varies significantly from sample site to sample site because of varying source-rock lithologies and periglacial processes. Thus, because fractions coarser than clay are mostly quartz and feldspar and contain very little metal after weathering in the active layer, they were removed by centrifugation so as not to mask the 'true' relative metal contents of samples. The clay-sized fraction was separated from till samples and analyzed on the assumption that it contained scavenging phases that adsorb cations in proportion to those released by weathering of mineralized particles that were originally physically dispersed by glacial action.
Dispersal patterns of copper, zinc, nickel, and uranium were derived for approximately 1000 samples evenly distributed over a 2500 km² grid. From these maps, large dispersal trains of copper and nickel were found, and known areas of high potential for uranium and Cu-Zn mineralization were clearly indicated.     

New Archaeomagnetic Data from Tunisia: Dating of Two Kilns and New Archaeointensities from Three Ceramic Artifacts

Two isolated kilns of unknown age and three well‐dated artifacts from Tunisia have been investigated using archaeomagnetic techniques. Dating has been attempted for the kilns and archaeomagnetic intensities have been obtained for the artifacts. The kilns lack datable artifacts although one of them (Sidi Zahruni) could be related to a nearby late Roman site. Comparison with the SCHA.DIF.3K regional geomagnetic model suggests for both kilns two possible periods of last use, either Roman or Medieval. Three archaeomagnetic intensities were obtained for the well‐dated ceramic artifacts adding to scarce archaeomagnetic data from Africa. The new data along with recently published archaeointensities from other Tunisian sites have been compared with the regional model SCHA.DIF.3K, its updated version, and the global ARCH3k.1 geomagnetic model. The models show relatively good agreement with the new archaeointensities and with previously published intensities. The uncertainty of the experimental data tends to increase for older artifacts, and their agreement with the geomagnetic models diminishes. The observed trend of the intensity models to underestimate values in the Tunisian area for the Roman period could be overcome by adding new data from well‐dated artifacts from North African, particularly from pre‐Roman and Roman sites.     

Using GIS and statistics to study influences of geology on probability features of surface soil geochemistry in Northern Ireland

The probability features of non-normality and non-lognormality are widely observed in geochemistry due to the influences of multiple factors that are difficult to quantify and model. In Northern Ireland, the pseudo-total concentrations of 14 elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb and Zn) from 6138 topsoils were measured, and GIS mapping showed that the spatial distribution of these data were in line with the spatial distribution of geology in the area. Investigations into the influences of geology on the concentration data and their probability features were carried out using GIS and statistics in this study. The whole raw data sets for each element were positively skewed and none of them followed either normal or lognormal distributions. Logarithmic transformation was found to have “over-transformed” most of the data sets, changing their skewness from positive to negative values. When soil samples were classified by rock type using a GIS overlay function, obvious differences were observed in the chemical concentrations of soils derived from different rock types. Soils in basalt areas displayed the highest concentrations for most elements under study (Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P and Zn) but the lowest concentrations for K, while the highest levels for Cd and Pb occurred in the shale areas. Classifying soils by rock type produced more normally distributed data sets, especially for the igneous rock areas. To restrain the influence of soil type and land cover, samples from both gleys and pastures were extracted via a GIS and it was found the data sets then showed generally greater tendencies towards normality. However, many of the data sets would still not pass a test for normality unless the sample size was small (e.g. of the order of a couple of hundreds). Geology, soil type, land cover and sample size all played important roles in determining soil chemical concentrations and their probability features. However, the influences from other factors were still evident. Attempts made in this study show that it remains a challenging task in geochemistry to separate all the factors and to model their influence at the regional scale.     

Integrating surface and subsurface reconnaissance data in the study of stratigraphically complex sites: Blagotin,Serbia

This article demonstrates the application of multiple reconnaissance methods as an efficient means of localizing desired data sets (e.g., artifact concentrations and architectural features) in stratigraphically complex sites. Excavations at Blagotin, Serbia, are presented as an example. Blagotin is a multioccupation site with vertically superimposed and laterally displaced cultural deposits. The application of a battery of survey techniques and the integration of the results enabled the author to define periods of occupation (Early Neolithic, Eneolithic, Early Iron Age), distinguish temporal variations, and predict the nature and distribution of subsurface archaeological remains. Ultimately, the Early Neolithic occupation is shown to consist of a small settlement with a large central pit‐house surrounded by a ring of smaller pit houses. This interpretation of the intra‐settlement spatial organization, made possible through the application of a multiple survey technique, differs from those previously offered for these types of sites. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Possible effects of iron oxide coating in the recovery of particulate gold from stream sediments

The influence of iron hydroxide/oxide coatings on the recovery of gold was studied using 13 stream sediment samples collected from an area of known gold mineralisation. Magnetic products collected from a Frantz isodynamic separator showed higher gold values than did non-magnetic fractions. An acid-treated magnetic product when run through the isodynamic separator yielded a significant amount of non-magnetic component which, when viewed by binocular microscope, showed the presence of gold grains in both bulk sample and in bromoform-separated heavy mineral concentrate. It is suggested that concentrates are treated with 10% HCl prior to magnetic separation where iron oxide coatings are conspicuous.     

Bounding the required sample size for geologic site characterization

The proposed objective of limited sample geologic site characterization is to minimize the chance of unknown and unexpected extremes. This problem proves to be extremely difficult when the data are spatially correlated. A generalization of the classical one-sided nonparametric tolerance interval, based upon the statistical concept of associated random variables, establishes a rigorous, almost distribution-free, tool for computing the minimum required sample size for site characterization. An upper bound on the required number of samples follows from a heuristic measure for the quantity of information in a spatially dependent sample; the measure presented is the equivalent number of uncorrelated samples and is calculated using an estimated variogram. An empirical check of the upper and lower bounds, using more than 2 million simulations and seven real data sets produces a heuristic rule for quantifying the required number of samples.This paper was presented at Emerging Concepts, MGUS-87 Conference, Redwood City, California, 13–15 April 1987.