North American Archaeomagnetism
Current Research
U.S. Midcontinent Curve Building Efforts
19 Keith Island
20 Knappenberger
21 Lilbourn
22 Little Cypress Bayou
23 Modoc
24 Moundville
25 Neil Flurry
26 Pinson Mounds
27 Poplar
28 Roland Mound
29 Shiloh
30 Snodgrass
31 Tellico Project (9 sites)
32 Toltec
33 Townsend (2 sites)
34 Turner
35 Walnut
36 Zebree
1 Alexander
2 Armorel
3 Banks Five
4 Bayou Sel
5 Boone's Mounds
6 Brougham Lake
7 Cahokia
8 Chucalissa
9 Cypress Citadel
10 Dumond
11 Dust Cave
12 Eoff 1
13 Ft. Loudoun
14 Gee's Landing
15 Hazel
16 Hedges
17 Hermitage
18 James White
Efforts are ongoing to strengthen and expand the archaeomagnetic curve constructed for the U.S. Midcontinent. The most recent curve,
MCCV04, was developed by Lengyel through her dissertation research at the University of Arizona. The curve is based on independently-dated
directional data from 240 archaeological features, and it spans the period between 60 and 10,700 cal BP. The curve is formulated as
three segments with different precisions. The youngest segment spans the period between 60 and 850 cal BP, and it can provide date
ranges on the order of 200 years. The middle segment spans the period between 850 and 2528 cal BP, and it can provided date ranges
on the order of 300 years. The oldest segment covers the period between 4650 and 10,700 cal BP; however, the resolution of this segment
is very coarse, and additional data are needed before it can be used for calendrical dating. The resolution of each segment is a factor
of the density and precision of the archaeomagnetic data used to create the segment, as well as the resolution of the independent
dates used to calibrate the segment. The inclusion of more well-dated data will help to increase the precision of the curve.
Increase collecting efforts throughout the area, but particularly at sites from under-represented periods (e.g., Late Archaic, Early
Woodland) and areas (e.g., Illinios, Indiana, Kentucky)
Increase the number of trained collectors working throughout the midcontinent
Incorporate historic magnetic field observations into the curve
Continue to educate the midcontinent archaeological community as
to the benefits and limitations of archaeomagnetic research, as well as the different applications of archaeomagnetic data
Goals for the Midcontinent:
60-850 BP
850-2528 BP
4650-10700 BP
