Secular variation of the Earth's magnetic field in the Balkan region during the last eight millennia based on archaeomagnetic data

Abstract

S U M M A R YThe first archaeomagnetic secular variation (SV) curves for the whole Southern Balkan Peninsula are presented. These are based on all data within a 700 km circle centred at Thessaloniki (40.60 o N, 23.00 o E). This data set consists of 325 directional and 625 intensity data mainly from Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and southern Hungary. Some data from southern Italy are also included. The sliding moving window technique, was used to calculate a continuous SV curve for intensity while the directional SV curves were calculated using the bivariate extension of the Fisher statistics. These curves are well constrained and clearly show the main features of the geomagnetic field variation in this region during the last eight millennia. Comparisons with the predictions of the SCHA.DIF.3K and SCHA.DIF.8K regional and the CALS7K.2 and ARCH3K.1 global geomagnetic field models show a good agreement for the last 3000 years but differences for older times. The Balkan SV curves identify several rapid changes of the geomagnetic field in eastern Europe and can be used as reference curves for archaeomagnetic dating in the Balkan Peninsula.

An Archaeometric and Archaeological Approach to Hellenistic-Early Roman Ceramic Workshops in Greece: Contribution to Dating

“…The discipline of archaeomagnetism has considerably expanded in recent decades and resulted in a number of databases and geomagnetic field models (Korte et al 2005;Genevey et al 2008;Donadini et al 2009;Pavón-Carasco et al 2009, 2010Tema and Kondopoulou 2011;Gómez-Paccard et al 2012). The construction of local secular variation curves has resulted in considerably improving the dating in addition to fortifying our knowledge about the geomagnetic field's properties and evolution.…”

Directional changes of the geomagnetic field in West Africa: Insights from the metallurgical site of Korsimoro

“…9 shows the secular variation in terms of declination and inclination at Korsimoro. The averages of the structures reported in Table A.3 are shown as black circles along with the CALS3K.4 model as yellow line and with the Balkan curve relocated at Korsimoro in red (Tema and Kondopoulou, 2011). Although from a distant region, the Balkan curve is the most complete and detailed paleosecular variation curve.…”

“…The dashed error bar of kiln KRS22 indicates that its age cannot be determined with certainty. The CALS3K.4 model as yellow line , the Balkan curve in red (Tema and Kondopoulou, 2011), and the Spanish curve of Gomez-Paccard et al (2006) as a green line. Available data from Northwestern Africa (Morocco) are also shown as white circles (Kovacheva, 1984;Thellier and Thellier, 1959;Najid, 1987;Casas et al, 2008;Gomez-Paccard et al, 2012).…”

“…Pavón-Carrasco et al, 2009, or secular variation curves (e.g. Tema and Kondopoulou, 2011) is also widely used for dating purposes. Based on the mathematical approaches of Lanos (2004), Pavón-Carrasco et al (2011) developed a tool that facilitates considerably the estimation of the date of an artifact based on a particular model or curve calculated at the artifact's location.…”

Paleomagnetic and geochemical record from cores from the Sea of Marmara, Turkey: Age constraints and implications of sapropelic deposition on early diagenesis

“…9) reduced constraints on grain movements thereby allowing more reliable paleomagnetic recording (Tucker, 1980). We compare each of our records with the calculated inclination variation for the last 2000 years using the time varying spherical harmonic model CALS3K.4 of Korte and Constable (2011) and with a local curve obtained in the Balkans (Tema and Kondopoulou, 2011) (Fig. 7).…”