Archaeomagnetic Dating

Archaeomagnetic dating uses changes in Earth's magnetic field intensity and direction recorded in fired clay artifacts to determine age. Pioneered by Robert Coe in the 1960s, the method measures the magnetization of pottery and baked clay features, comparing measurements to a master curve of geomagnetic variation through time. Archaeomagnetic dating is most effective for materials dated to the last 10,000 years and is particularly powerful in arid regions where clay artifacts are well-preserved.