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Magnetism in Mesoamerian Murals By: Emily Shearin

Magnetism in Mesoamerian Murals By: Emily Shearin. What is Archaeomagnetic Dating?. Two basic principles: Earth's magnetic field changes with time in both intensity and direction (strength and secular variation)

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Magnetism in Mesoamerian Murals By: Emily Shearin

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  1. Magnetism in Mesoamerian MuralsBy: Emily Shearin

  2. What is Archaeomagnetic Dating? • Two basic principles: • Earth's magnetic field changes with time in both intensity and direction (strength and secular variation) • Certain events can naturally cause magnetic materials to end up permanently magnetized. This records the magnetic field within the magnetic materials pertaining to the time of the event

  3. My Thesis • Archaeomagnetic Dating • Reliable and useful • That Mesoamerican murals have the correct material to perform Archaeomagnetic dating • I will also discuss what I believe is a logical next step in archaeomagnetic research in Mesoamerica would be.

  4. What Materials Can Be Used? In the case of Mesoamerican murals: • Hematite and Magnetite • As the paint and pigments dry the inclination, declination, and therefore field direction freeze, this leaves the remanent magnetization behind that can be tested The most prevalent of these magnetized minerals are iron oxides including magnetite, and hematite It was previously thought that the magnetized minerals would only get stuck after being heated above the Curie point. The Curie point is also known as the Curie temperature is the point where a material's magnetic parts change direction

  5. The Research: Study 1Avto Goguitchaichvili and A. Soler • Templo Rojo @ Tenohtitlan, Templo de Venus @ Cacaxtla, Chapulines and Estrellas @ Cholula • These specific pieces were chosen because they have been well dated in different ways. Also because they have an abundance of red paint • Looking to prove that archaeomagnetic dating results were valid • “A characteristic remanent magnetization is successfully isolated by alternating field demagnetization • They found the mean directions of each mural are reasonably determined and hold within the date range previously determined • Compared these results to those from rocks and lime plaster • Turned out that all the archaeomagnetic dating from the murals and other materials agreed with previous research.

  6. The Research: Study 1Avto Goguitchaichvili and A. Soler

  7. The Research: Study 2Hueda-Tanabe and A Soler • Archaeomagnetic dating on burned and unburned lime-plaster • Lime plaster was chosen because of its frequent occurrence, especially as support for murals • Hypothesis: Lime plasters contain enough magnetic materials , and that it is feasible to measure their remanent magnetization • Proving Archaeomagnetism is a useful tool in Mesoamerican archeology, allowing the dating of constructive stages

  8. Templo Mayor Large complex structure with several constructive stages Chosen specifically because the chronology of the constructive stages are unclear The Research: Study 2Hueda-Tanabe and A Soler Teopancazco • Residential compound • Characterized by a series of constructive levels • Very well known dating, this is why it was chosen

  9. Due to secondary tilting of the structure, re-magnetization possibly occurred However showed well grouped magnetization and the group believed with further research and re calibration the dates will hold true The Research: Study 2Hueda-Tanabe and A Soler • Results @ Teopancazco • Stage 2 both A. dating and c14 have a mean of 350 AD • Stage 3 C14 said 575 +/- 80 while A dating says 555 AD

  10. The Next Step...

  11. Why Monte Alban? • The murals in Monte Alban are mostly tomb murals • They have discovered 177 tombs and more are being found • The two tombs I would focus on are Tomb 104 and Tomb 105

  12. Tomb 105 Thoroughly researched Some chronological questions remain Zapotec Red Hold Hematite Re-entered Characteristics of the Tombs Tomb 104 • Thoroughly researched • Can be cross dated • Zapotec Red • Holds Hematite • Remained sealed

  13. Tomb 105 Mystery • Zapotec red is a unique mixture: Organic red lake pigment (either carminic acid from cochineal insects or colorant extracted from annatto seed), cinnabar, hematite • Dead technique brought back for these tombs • Darker red used for skin color is hematite and water • Different technique suggesting re-entrance and re-painting of the mural

  14. The Dream • Use archaeomagnetic dating on all the layers of paint • Layers of lime plaster • Compare these dates to those known before • Fill in gaps of construction and culture

  15. Hueda-Tanabe,Y, Soler-Arechalde, A.M., Urrutia-Fucugauchi, J., Barba L., Manzanilla, L., Rebolledo-Vieyra M., Goguitchaichvili, A., 2004 Archaeomagnetic studies in central Mexico—dating of Mesoamerican lime-plasters, Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Volume 147, Issues 2–3, 15 November 2004, Pages 269-283, (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031920104002742) Lopez, V., E. Romero, A. M. Soler-Arechalde, and G. Espinosa. 2007, "Archaeomagnetic Investigation at Chapultepec, Mexico City: Case Study of Classical Settlers." In AGU Spring Meeting Abstracts, vol. 1, p. 07. Otgeta-Aviles, M., San-German, C.M., Mendoza- Anaya, D., Morales, D., Jose- Yacaman,M., 2001, Characterization of Mural Paintings from Cacaxtla Journal of Materials Science, Valume 36, Issue 9, pp 222702236 Sources • De La Fuente B., Flacon T., Ruizgallut M.E., Soilis F., Stainescicero L., Uriarte M.T. • 1999, The Pre-Columbian Paining, Murals of Mesoamerica. Milan, Jaca Book Spa • Eighmy, Jeffery L., Sternberh, Robert S. • 1991, Archaeomagnetic Dating, University of Arizona Press • Goguitchaichvili, A., A. M. Soler, E. Zanella, G. Chiari, R. Lanza, J. Urrutia-Fucugauchi, and T. Gonzales • 2004, Pre-Columbian Mural Paintings from Mesoamerica as Geomagnetic Field Recorders, Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 31, Issue 12, L12607 • Pellizzi F., Wood C., Hay J., Mahaloni D., Guernsey J., Becker, C., Rochette M., Kousser R., Et Al. • 2010 Res:Anthropology and Aethetics, 57/58 Spring/Autumn • Pratt, S. • 2004. Magnetic Murals. Geotimes, <http://www.geotimes.org/sept04/NN_magneticmurals.html>

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