Archaeomagnetic investigation of oriented pre-Columbian lime-plasters from Teotihuacan, Mesoamerica

Soler-Arechalde, A. M.; Sánchez, Francisco Javier Alejandre; Rodríguez, Mario Octavio Cotilla; Caballero-Miranda, C. I.; Goguitchaishvili, Avto; Urrutia‐Fucugauchi, J.; Manzanilla, Linda; Tarling, D. H.

doi:10.1186/bf03352639

Cited by 27 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(14 reference statements)

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“…The origin of this behavior is unclear. It may be speculated that some reheating due to firing events [ Soler‐Arechalde et al , 2006] might produce the strong thermochemical remanent magnetization.…”

Section: Experimental and Methodological Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated archeomagnetic and micro–Raman spectroscopy study of pre‐Columbian ceramics from the Mesoamerican formative village of Cuanalan, Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

et al. 2009

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[1] We report a detailed archeomagnetic and micro-Raman spectroscopy investigation on pre-Columbian pottery fragments from Cuanalan (a formative village in the valley of Teotihuacan, central Mexico). Available radiocarbon ages range from 2320 ± 80 to 2060 ± 90 B.P. Continuous low-field susceptibility versus temperature curves performed in air indicate Ti-poor titanomagnetites as magnetization carriers. Few samples, however, show two ferrimagnetic phases with Curie temperatures compatible with both Ti-poor and Ti-rich titanomagnetites. Hysteresis parameter ratios fall essentially in the pseudosingle-domain region, which may indicate a mixture of multidomain and a significant amount of single-domain grains. Mineralogical composition of the Teotihuacan ceramics has been investigated using micro-Raman spectroscopy. Samples are characterized by highly heterogeneous body matrix mineralogy due to the presence of a large variety of minerals with several mineralogical phases. Observed titanomagnetite and magnetite bands shift toward higher wave numbers, confirming a reducing atmosphere and a relatively high temperature (about 800-900°C) during the ceramic production. This definitively indicates the thermoremanent origin of magnetic magnetization. Archeointensity values have been determined from 7 pottery fragments (47 samples) out of 10 (70 samples) analyzed. Anisotropy of thermoremanent magnetization and the cooling rate effect upon thermoremanent magnetization intensity acquisition have been investigated in all the samples. The mean archeointensity values obtained in this study range from 24.2 ± 3.2 to 40.0 ± 1.7 mT, and corresponding virtual axial dipole moments range from 4.8 ± 0.6 to 8.0 ± 0.4 (10 22 A m 2 ). This corresponds to a mean virtual dipole moment value of 5.9 ± 1.1 Â 10 22 A m 2 , which is lower than the present-day field strength and the predicted values by global models and the latest data compilation. However, our data agree well with currently available absolute intensity values from Mesoamerica. The archeointensity values uncorrected for cooling rate and anisotropy are systematically higher than the corrected values. These uncorrected values agree with the CALS7K model, which may be biased by the fact that such corrections were not applied to most of the previous data.

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Section: Experimental and Methodological Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrated archeomagnetic and micro–Raman spectroscopy study of pre‐Columbian ceramics from the Mesoamerican formative village of Cuanalan, Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

et al. 2009

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“…Archeological data support burning and looting of Teotihuacán during the "Big Fire" of ca. 550 CE (Beramendi-Orosco et al, 2009;Soler-Arechalde et al, 2006), prior to its fall as a major regional power (Cowgill, 1997;Millon, 1967). Other hypotheses for the fall of Teotihuacán include climatic drying (García, 1974;Millon, 1967), social and environmental problems, nomad incursions, bad administration of economy and politics (Manzanilla, 2003), deforestation and soil erosion (Sanders et al, 1979;Sears, 1955), and volcanic eruptions (Siebe et al, 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 2400 yr Mesoamerican rainfall reconstruction links climate and cultural change

Lachniet

Bernal²,

Asmerom

et al. 2012

Geology

109

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Droughts are a recurring feature of Mexican climate, but few high-resolution data are available to test for climate-change forcing of Mesoamerican civilizations. We present a quantitative 2400 yr rainfall reconstruction for the Basin of Mexico, from a precisely dated and highly resolved speleothem, that documents highly variable rainfall over the past 2400 yr. Dry conditions peaked during a 150-yr-long late Classic (ca. 600-900 CE) (Common Era) mega drought that culminated at 770 CE which followed centuries of climatic drying that spanned the fall of the city of Teotihuacán ca. 550 CE. The wettest conditions in the 1450s CE were associated with fl ooding in the Basin of Mexico. Our data suggest that rainfall variability was likely forced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, and impacts on spring-fed irrigation agriculture may have been a stressor on Mesoamerican civilizations.

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“…In conclusion, our simple model for PiRM acquisition appears to work well enough for archaeomagnetic purposes. Investigation of new types of materials, such as mural paintings and plasters [ Soler‐Arechalde et al , 2006], extends the use of archaeomagnetism beyond the traditional baked and fired structures and provides new opportunities to date archaeological finds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Magnetic remanence of hematite‐bearing murals

Lanza

Zanella

Saudino

2009

Geophysical Research Letters

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The magnetic remanence of hematite-bearing murals / Lanza R.; Zanella E.; Saudino S.. -In: GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS. -ISSN 0094-8276. -36(2009), pp. L24302--. Original Citation:The magnetic remanence of hematite-bearing murals [1] We report on a series of experiments designed to test the ability of hematite-bearing colors to record the direction of the ambient magnetic field. Plasterboards accurately oriented with respect to the Earth's magnetic field were painted with red tempera colors prepared with hematite pigments. Magnetic measurements indicate that the color film retains a remanent magnetization and acquires a well developed magnetic fabric. The remanence direction is close to, yet slightly deviated from the Earth's magnetic field. The deviation is interpreted to result from preferential alignment of the pigment grains parallel to the plasterboard surface and depends on both its orientation with respect to magnetic north and the degree of magnetic anisotropy of the color film, which in turn varies according to the pigment used. Investigation of the magnetic remanence of murals may complement archaeomagnetic information derived from traditional materials such as baked and fired structures.

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Archaeomagnetic investigation of oriented pre-Columbian lime-plasters from Teotihuacan, Mesoamerica

Cited by 27 publications

References 13 publications

Integrated archeomagnetic and micro–Raman spectroscopy study of pre‐Columbian ceramics from the Mesoamerican formative village of Cuanalan, Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

Integrated archeomagnetic and micro–Raman spectroscopy study of pre‐Columbian ceramics from the Mesoamerican formative village of Cuanalan, Teotihuacan Valley, Mexico

A 2400 yr Mesoamerican rainfall reconstruction links climate and cultural change

Magnetic remanence of hematite‐bearing murals

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