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Articles

• Downey, W., S.

An archaeomagnetic directional study of Late Minoan archaeological materials, (burnt mud brick, a clay/ash horizon and hearth material), was carried out at locations within the archaeological complex at Malia, Crete. The study aimed to establish the suitability of materials for archaeomagnetic sampling and to obtain archaeomagnetic directions for comparison with other Late Minoan “fired” sites on Crete. Results from 42 oriented samples measured on a fluxgate spinner magnetometer from homogeneously distributed burnt mud brick (constituting low elevation, in situ, partition walls), gave precise values of ancient field directions for, Malia Palace (area 13) and Maison Δα. These directions are statistically identical (at a 95% confidence level) and also identical to directions obtained from other Late Minoan archaeological sites, on Crete. This, may suggest, simultaneous ‘fire‐involved’ destruction. Other archaeomagnetic directions obtained from Malia (Quartier ε), from a ‘clay/ash’ horizon (34 samples) and hearth (19 samples), produced some spurious results, with detrimental consequences for directional accuracy. For the burnt mud brick, small viscous components were easily removed and evidence from coercivity spectra obtained, after step‐wise alternating field demagnetizations, suggests that, the magnetic carriers are single domain, (low titanium), titanomagnetite.

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία

dating, burnt mud‐brick, titanomagnetite, stability, grain‐state, Malia, Crete

Corresponding author: billdowney49@yahoo.com, The author would like to thank the Greek authorities who permitted this study and the individual site archaeologists for their kind assistance. Also thanks to Phua Eng Siong, Nur Farah Tuah and Mdm Lim Yeely (University Brunei Darussalam) for their technical assistance. The project was funded originally by the Science and Engineering Research Council (UK).