A new website has been set up by Sam Harris, who is undertaking PhD research into archaeomagnetic dating based on samples he has taken at the Ness of Brodgar.
Sam’s research should provide complimentary dates to the C14 ones we have done in conjunction with the Times of Their Lives Project. This will help with the refinement of the chronology of the Ness and also the use of this technique.
The primary aim of this PhD project is to develop archaeomagnetic dating in the Neolithic period in Scotland.
The research will expand on the pre-existing chronological dating tools available to the archaeologist by extending the calibration curve for archaeomagnetic dating. This will allow investigations of heated archaeological material from older parts of antiquity than previously permitted.
Further afield this will contribute to geophysical understanding of the Earth’s magnetic field in the past. The Ness of Brodgar’s ongoing excavations have allowed a significant amount of sampling and will continue to do so as the PhD progresses.
Already the results are looking very promising!
http://neolithicarchaeomagnetism.weebly.com/
