New Italian directional and intensity archaeomagnetic reference curves for the past 3000 years: Insights on secular variation and implications on dating

Abstract

We present the first Italian reference secular variation curves for both direction and intensity that cover the last 3000 years. Strict selection criteria were applied to guarantee the collection of the most reliable data within a 1000 km radius of Viterbo, including archaeomagnetic records from archaeological material and volcanic rocks. The new curves are calculated using Bayesian statistics and they depict interesting geomagnetic field features, such as high‐intensity periods. These are the first curves for Italy, including both directional and intensity data, and they can be used as reference curves for archaeomagnetic dating, not only in Italy but also in nearby countries.

Topics & Concepts