A multidisciplinary investigation of an ancient kiln excavated at Costigliole Saluzzo: new archaeometric and archaeomagnetic results
Yuri Leite Santos, Evdokia Tema, Patrizia Davit, Diego Elia, Valeria Meirano, Fulvio Fantino, Monica Gulmini
Abstract:
A multidisciplinary approach gathering archaeology, material sciences and geosciences can provide quality data regarding the characteristics and the production technology of archaeological artefacts beyond traditional archaeological methods. This study presents the integrated results of archaeological, archaeometric and archaeomagnetic analyses applied to an ancient kiln discovered at the archaeological site of Costigliole Saluzzo, in northwest Italy. Small samples of baked clay from the kiln s inner walls and central pillar were used for Fourier transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy and X-Ray Powder Diffraction, as well as for archaeomagnetic analyses in order to infer information about the firing temperatures reached during the kiln s use and to determine the direction of the Earth s magnetic field at the time of its abandonment. These analyses highlighted that a non-calcareous clay source was used for the construction of the kiln while the firing temperatures reached during its use ranged between 700 oC and 900 oC. Such temperatures make the fired clay a suitable recorder of the ancient geomagnetic field, registering the direction of the ancient field during its last firing. In fact, the obtained archaeomagnetic results show that the fired clay samples were characterized by a good magnetic stability and systematic alternating field demagnetization procedures successfully determined the direction of the characteristic remanent magnetization recorded during the last use of the kiln.
Download:
IMEKO-MetroArchaeo-2023-046.pdf
DOI:
10.21014/tc4-ARC-2023.046
Event details
IMEKO TC:
TC4
Event name:
TC4 MetroArchaeo 2023
Title:

IMEKO TC4 International Conference on Metrology for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage

Place:
Rome, ITALY
Time:
19 October 2023 - 21 October 2023
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