Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
In this paper, we present new data from 226Ra–230Th dating and archaeomagnetism with the aim of improving the knowledge of the flank eruptions that occurred at Mt Etna during the Greek–Roman and Early Medieval periods, as defined in the new geological map of the volcano. The combination of the two dating techniques demonstrates that three major flank eruptions occurred on the lower north and west flanks during Greek–Roman epochs, producing large scoria cones and extensive lava flows. In particular, the Mt Ruvolo and Mt Minardo events highly impacted the territory of the west flank, notably by damming the Simeto River. The new data of the Millicucco and Due Monti lava flows, on the lower north–east flank, indicate a younger age than their stratigraphic ages quoted in the 2011 geological map, since they occurred around 700 and 500 AD, respectively. None of the large flank eruptions occurring on the lower slopes of Etna during the Early Medieval age are reported in the historical sources. Overall, our paper shows that a comprehensive assessment of eruptions at Mount Etna in the last three millennia can only be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach.
ISSN: 0377-0273

hal-01277929
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01277929
DOI : 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2015.09.002

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
We present new archaeointensity results from three Italian kilns situated at Ascoli Satriano, Vagnari and Fontanetto Po obtained with the Thellier modified by Coe double heating method. These data complement the directional results previously published. All sites are dated on the basis of archaeological information and/or thermoluminescence dating. The results are corrected for the anisotropy of the thermoremanent magnetization and the cooling rate effects. The new data are compared with previously published archaeointensity data from Italy and nearby countries within 900 km radius from Viterbo. An initial data set including archaeointesity data mainly coming from Italy, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Greece and Bulgaria has been compiled. After the application of strict selection criteria, the most reliable data have been used for the calculation of a preliminary Italian intensity secular variation (SV) curve for the last 3000 yr. The new curve covers the 300 BC-400 AD and 1200-1900 AD periods. It is established by means of sliding windows of 200 yr shifted by 100 yr. The lack of reliable data for the 1000-200 BC and 400-1200 AD time intervals does not permit the calculation of a continuous curve. Clearly, more high-quality archaeointensity data from Italy and Europe are still needed to draw a robust intensity SV curve for the Italian Peninsula that could be used for archaeomagnetic dating in combination with the directional data.
ISSN: 0956-540X

hal-00828691
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00828691
DOI : 10.1093/gji/ggs120

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
We present new, full geomagnetic field vector results from three Neolithic ovens discovered at the archaeological site of Portonovo (Marche, Italy). The discovered structures are a rare example of very well preserved underground ovens from the Early Neolithic period. Standard thermal demagnetization procedures were used to isolate the direction of the Characteristic Remanent Magnetization acquired by the baked clay during the ovens' last firing. The corresponding archaeointensities were determined by the multi-specimen procedure (MSP-DSC) and show a clear intensity low during the Neolithic period. Both directional and intensity results are of high quality, offering the first contribution of full geomagnetic field vector data for this period in Italy. The new data are compared with other contemporaneous data from Europe and with global geomagnetic field models. Independent archaeomagnetic dating of the three ovens was also performed by means of the SCHA.DIF.14k model. The obtained results are in excellent agreement with available radiocarbon dates and confirm that all ovens belong to the Neolithic. These new data importantly enrich our knowledge of the geomagnetic field during the Neolithic period that is poorly documented by data, not only in Italy but also in the whole of Europe and show that archaeomagnetic dating can provide precise results even for prehistoric periods.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-01357276
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01357276
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.05.003

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag (Germany)
Résumé : We present a detailed rock-magnetic and archaeomagnetic study of two brick kilns, named OSA and OSB, discovered at the location of Osterietta, in northern Italy. The magnetic properties of representative samples have been investigated to identify the nature of the magnetic carriers, their domain state and thermal stability, and investigate their suitability for archaeomagnetic determinations. Thermally stable, mainly pseudosingle domain (PSD) magnetite is identified as the main magnetic carrier. The full geomagnetic field vector has been determined for the two kilns, including directional and intensity analysis. Archaeointensities have been recovered with both the classical Thellier and the multi-specimen protocols. The multi-specimen procedure was performed with a very fast-heating oven developed at Montpellier, France. A Matlab® code for anisotropy correction during the Thellier experiment is provided. The archaeointensity results obtained from both techniques for the OSA kiln are of high quality and in good mutual agreement. For the OSB kiln, Thellier results are characterized by large standard deviation and the multi-specimen (MSP) technique was not successful. The obtained full geomagnetic field vector (declination, inclination and intensity) has been used for the archaeomagnetic dating of the two structures suggesting that the OSA kiln was for the last time used between 1761?1841 A.D. and the OSB kiln between 1752?1831 A.D., at 95% probability. This study shows that intensity determinations do not restrict the dating results when referring to the last few centuries, as this period is characterized by very small intensity variations.
ISSN: 0039-3169

hal-01236052
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01236052
DOI : 10.1007/s11200-015-0413-0

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
Three kilns and a collection of baked bricks from Italian archaeological sites have been studied for archaeointensity determination using the Thellier method as modified by Coe. All sites are dated based on archaeological information and their ages range from 500 to 800 AD and 1500 to 1700 AD. Rock magnetic studies identify magnetite, Ti- magnetite and hematite as the main magnetic minerals, and magnetic susceptibility versus temperature shows a good thermal stability of the samples. The intensity results have been corrected for anisotropy of the thermoremanent magnetization and cooling rate effects. The new data together with 136 previously published results are used to estimate the variation of the Earth's magnetic field over the past three millennia. The time distribution of the Italian absolute intensity data is irregular with the majority of determinations concentrated during the last four centuries, while older periods are very poorly covered. Most of the data come from volcanic rocks and show significant discrepancies. All data have been compared with archaeointensity results from Europe and regional and global models predictions. This work indicates the need to obtain more high quality archaeointensity results, in particular for the periods older than 200 BC and between 200 and 1000 AD, in order to determine a robust Italian intensity secular variation curve that, in combination with directional data, could be used for archaeomagnetic dating.
ISSN: 0956-540X

hal-00452451
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00452451
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2009.04455.x