SCHA.DIF.4k: 4,000 Years of Paleomagnetic Reconstruction for Europe and Its Application for Dating

Since the publication of the European archaeomagnetic field model SCHA.DIF.3k in 2009, the number of paleomagnetic data derived from archaeological materials such as baked clays and volcanic rocks coming from Europe has increased by about 90% for directions and around 180% for intensities. Taking advantage of this increase, here we provide an updated regional archaeomagnetic model, called SCHA.DIF.4k, for the European continent and adjacent areas and now covering the last four millennia. To model the three geomagnetic elements, declination, inclination, and intensity, we use the regional R-SCHA2D technique in space and temporal basis of cubic splines. A critical selection of the archaeomagnetic and volcanic data available in a spherical cap of 30 degrees centered at 40 degrees N latitude and 10 degrees E longitude has been considered. In addition, in order to better constrain the behavior of the archaeomagnetic field during the last centuries, we include the historical data of the HISTMAG compilation. The new regional model allows us to better define the paleomagnetic field over Europe as well as to generate new paleosecular variation curves for archaeomagnetic dating purposes. Using these curves, the dating precision has been estimated for the last 4 kyr. As expected, results show that it strongly depends on the data uncertainties, the temporal data distribution and the behavior of the geomagnetic field itself. In addition, the use of the full vector geomagnetic field, instead of the directional information exclusively, provides more precise archaeomagnetic dating results.

Automated summary

This study presents an updated regional archaeomagnetic model, SCHA.DIF.4k, for the European continent and adjacent areas, based on the increased paleomagnetic data since the publication of the previous model in 2009. The new model allows for better definition of the paleomagnetic field over Europe and the generation of new paleosecular variation curves for archaeomagnetic dating purposes. Results show that the dating precision over the last 4 kyr depends on data uncertainties, temporal data distribution, and the behavior of the geomagnetic field itself, with the use of the full vector geomagnetic field providing more precise archaeomagnetic dating results.