Paleointensities of the Geomagnetic Field Obtained from Pre-Inca Potsherds near Cajamarca, Northern Peru

Abstract

The changes in geomagnetic field intensity in Peru in the last 1500 years was investigated by the Thelliers' method applied to ceramics excavated near Cajamarca, northern Peru. The age interval spanned by these samples is from 1500 B. C. to 1300 A. D., which is subdivided into seven different cultural periods. Ages of the individual periods were determined by combining C-14 data, stratigraphy, and the stylistic evolution of the ceramics in the pre-Inca cultures of northern Peru. Thirteen good and 7 acceptable results were obtained among the 24 samples subjected to the experiments. The results are in broad agreement with the ones already reported for the period 1500 B. C.-500 A. D., and a maximum at about 700 B. C. and a minimum at about 0 A. D. are well defined by the present data. The large scatter in the previous results are concluded to be due to the errors in the assignment of ages to the ceramics. The importance is stressed of using materials with well defined ages for archeomagnetic experiments. © 1986, Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences. All rights reserved.