Shelby Jones-Cervantes will give a presentation on her current archaeomagnetic dating research and the methods behind this very important mode of dating archaeological material. Over the past six decades, a number of scientists have devoted their careers to collecting and measuring the magnetic properties of archaeological burned sediments, such as hearths, bricks, kilns, and pottery. The resulting data show that the Earth’s magnetic field has varied significantly over the last 2,000 years. This rich archaeomagnetic database is now being integrated into global models of the Earth’s field, strengthening both the geophysical models and the archaeologists’ ability to use geomagnetic variation as a dating technique.
The Brown Bag talks will take place at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology at 12:00 noon in the CNMA library. Seating is limited. Admission is free.
The Center for New Mexico Archaeology (7 Old Cochiti Road) is located off of Caja del Rio Road, across from Challenge New Mexico on the way to the Santa Fe Municipal Golf Course. Take 599 to South Meadows Road, continue through the traffic circle west along the Frontage Road to Caja del Rio Road. CNMA is on the left-hand side of the road and is the large building with white sail-like skylights on the roof.
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