Faculty Advisor
Valentine, Mike
Area of Study
Science and Mathematics
Publication Date
Summer 2011
Abstract
Both archaeological and paleomagnetic data (specifically thermal remnant magnetization, or TRM) are being utilized in an effort to determine the temperature of heating for fire-cracked rocks (FCRs) found at a pre-contact site on Camano Island in Island County, WA. If temperatures were high enough to reach the Curie temperatures of any magnetic minerals contained within the rocks, the resulting information may permit inferences as to the fuels used and the purpose of the fires. The Camano Island site is thought to be a later pre-contact Kikiallus site, containing shell debris and human remains in addition to the FCRs. Samples show three distinct responses: 1) changes of direction at low temperature, 2) no change of direction (suggesting either that the FCRs were never altered, or alteration occurred at higher temperatures than testing), or 3) erratic results that cannot be easily analyzed.
Recommended Citation
Anunsen, Tracy, "Paleomagnetic Applications in Archaeology: Analysis of Fire-Cracked Rocks at Camano Island Site" (2011). Summer Research. 100.
https://soundideas.pugetsound.edu/summer_research/100
Rights
Publisher
University of Puget Sound
Summer 2011 Research Symposium Reflection
anunsen_summer_2011_poster.ppt (1705 kB)
Poster in MS Powerpoint format