Archaeological and Geomagnetic Implications of New Archaeomagnetic Intensity Data from the Early Bronze High Terrace ‘Massif Rouge’ at Mari (Tell Hariri, Syria)

Abstract

We present new archaeointensity data from the Mesopotamian city of Mari (Syria), in particular from the high terrace 'Massif Rouge' dated at c.2550 BCE. These data were obtained using the experimental protocol developed for the Triaxe magnetometer. They allow for increased confidence in a strong geomagnetic field intensity maximum during the 26th century BCE. They also show that the second urban phase of Mari ('ville II') was marked by a decrease in the geomagnetic field intensity. We use this evolution to propose a relative chronology between different ensembles of fragments, thus highlighting some renovations in the Royal Palace of ville II.

New Late Neolithic (c. 7000–5000 BC) archeointensity data from Syria. Reconstructing 9000years of archeomagnetic field intensity variations in the Middle East

“…We note that these magnetic properties are very similar to those we previously obtained from Syrian fired-clay artifacts of younger ages (e.g. Genevey et al, 2003;Gallet et al, 2008;Gallet and Butterlin, 2014).…”

“…Archeomagnetic studies conducted up to now were mainly focused on the Bronze and Iron Age archeological periods, allowing a better characterization of the regional geomagnetic field intensity behavior for the last 3 millennia BC (i.e. Genevey et al, 2003; Gallet and Le Gallet et al, 2008Ben-Yosef et al, 2008, 2009Gallet and Al Maqdissi, 2010;Thébault and Gallet, 2010;Shaar et al, 2011;Ertepinar et al, 2012;Gallet and Butterlin, 2014). These studies have revealed significant field intensity ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 3 variations, and in particular a series of intensity maxima between ~2600 and 2500 BC, between ~2300-2000 BC, around 1500 BC and at the very beginning of the first millennium BC (e.g.…”

Further evidence of the Levantine Iron Age geomagnetic anomaly from Georgian pottery

“…We display regional compilations outside the Levant by using two sets of criteria: data obtained by using the Thellier method in gray symbols and data passing Pavon‐Carrasco et al [] criteria (Thellier‐type methods with pTRM check and at least four specimens) in colored symbols. The Levantine paleointensity behavior, to which we compare the Georgian data, is shown in the south west corner of the map in Figure , consisting of the Central Levant data in red [ Ben‐Yosef et al , , ; Shaar et al , , , ] (analyzed and interpreted by using identical methods and selection criteria), and from Syria and Turkey in cyan [ Ertepinar et al , ; Gallet and Butterlin , ; Gallet et al , , , , ; Genevey et al , ; Stillinger et al , ]. The LIAA period with the two spikes is highlighted by a shaded orange stripe.…”

Large geomagnetic field anomalies revealed in Bronze to Iron Age archeomagnetic data from Tel Megiddo and Tel Hazor, Israel

“…We also plot in open black symbols other data from Syria published by two research groups: IPGP, Paris (e.g. Genevey et al, 2003;Gallet et al, 2005Gallet et al, , 2006Gallet et al, , 2008Gallet et al, , 2014Gallet and Butterlin, 2015), and the Institute for Rock Magnetism (IRM), University of Minnesota (Stillinger et al, 2015). These Syrian data were published without the measurement data and cannot be reinterpreted via Thellier GUI using our criteria.…”

“…The main reasons for , 2008a, 2008bShaar et al, 2011Shaar et al, , 2015, interpreted using the automatic interpretation technique described in text and the acceptance criteria listed in Table 1. Open gray symbols are other published data from Syria (Genevey et al, 2003;Gallet et al, 2005Gallet et al, , 2006Gallet et al, , 2008Gallet et al, , 2014Gallet and Butterlin, 2015;Stillinger et al, 2015). Locations map is shown in Fig.…”