PROBLEMS OF GEOCOSMOS

Proceedings of the 7th International Conference "Problems of Geocosmos" (St. Petersburg, Russia, 26-30 May 2008)
DATING OF THE CERAMIC MATERIAL FROM MONUMENT
“MAISKAJA GORA”, USING DATA ABOUT INTENSITY OF THE
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
K.S. Burakov, I.E. Nachasova
Institute of Physics of the Earth RAS, Moscow, e-mail: archaeomag@yahoo.co.uk
Abstract. Comparison of data about intensity of the geomagnetic field, received as a result of
research of magnetization protomy from the Mayskaya Gora site with the data received on
narrowly dated ceramics, has enabled to conclude, that the time-interval of their manufacturing
consists 70 – 80 years and the most probable time of manufacturing protomy - second half IV – the
first quarter of III century B.C.
Quite often at dating a ceramic material of archeological monuments by archeological methods there are
difficulties. Correlation of a picture of variation of intensity of the geomagnetic field received as a result of
research of magnetization of a ceramic material of an archeological monument, allow to specify a temporary
binding of this material and, consequently, and all monument.
Reception of detailed data about change of intensity of a geomagnetic field in area East Mediterranean
– Black Sea Coast in second half of I thousand BC. has enabled a time binding of a ceramic material of
Maiskaya Gora - one of archeological monuments of the peninsula Taman located in 1 km to the south from
site of ancient settlement Phanagoria. All material is dated the long period - from the end VI till III century
B.C.
Magnetization protomy (ceramic top on a breast images of goddesses) from a sanctuary of a
monument on Maiskaya Gora was investigated. During manufacture forms (matrix) are removed from one
original (maiella) for manufacturing several series of terracottas. At long manufacturing protomy their sizes
decrease from generation to generation. It is possible to track these changes in series from generation to
generation, to establish relative chronology. However the question of absolute dating remains opened.
For realization of a time binding it is necessary to have longer number of pottery which sequence of
manufacturing is known. The opportunity of an establishment of sequence of manufacturing of some pottery
in case of research protomy, allows to lead a time binding of this material. Magnetization of a material of
series of protomy of 9 types differing on appearance has been investigated. It is carried out research of
magnetization of 76 samples, 3 detrminations are rejected. The longest number (from seven generations)
would be available for protomy of B-type.
The time binding of data about intensity of the field, received on magnetization protomy, is spent on
the basis of affinity of averages for generations of values of intensity of a geomagnetic field to the basic
curve constructed by means of sliding averaging with an interval of averaging of 11 years according to,
received as a result of research of magnetization is narrow (within the limits of 30 years) dated the ceramic
material selected from area of East Mediterranean – Black Sea Coast (the filled in points on figure).
It has been constructed two versions of basic curves – on all data set, and on set of the determinations
received with high accuracy and certainty (crosses on fig.). The second set has consisted of the
determinations received on a material which magnetic characteristics do not change after heatings and there
are no secondary heatings that allows to receive detrminations of intensity of an ancient geomagnetic field
with the least deviation from true values. Character of variation of intensity of a field on both data sets
practically is identical. Divergences are insignificant. The picture received by the most precise
determinations is less smoothed.
According to the obtained results, the geomagnetic field decreases in the time of production of
protomy of the first four generations, then it increases The average values of intensity of a field change
within the limits from 75.9 up to 69.1 mkT.
On basic curves intensity of a geomagnetic field changes in a similar way in close intervals of values
of intensity on two time intervals: second half V – the first quarter of IV century B.C. and second half IV –
the first quarter of III century BC. And in that and in another case the best concurrence of the data received
on a material protomy, to basic curves of variation of intensity of a field turns out if to have time intervals of
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