Title: Fascinating discovery: Bricks from Mesopotamia reveal significant increase in Earth’s magnetic field
Introduction :
Thousands of years ago, Earth’s magnetic field experienced a significant increase in strength over a part of the world that included the ancient kingdom of Mesopotamia. This fluctuation, which went unnoticed at the time, was recently highlighted by researchers thanks to the analysis of fired bricks dating from the 3rd to the 1st millennium BC. These bricks, found in what is now Iraq as well as parts of Syria, Iran and Turkey, revealed magnetic signatures consistent with a period when the Earth’s magnetic field was exceptionally strong. This fascinating discovery reflects the importance of preserving the ancient heritage of Mesopotamia for science and humanity in general.
Levantine Iron Age geomagnetic Anomaly:
The discovery of the magnetic signatures in the bricks of Mesopotamia also aligned with a period known as the “Levantine Iron Age geomagnetic anomaly.” This magnetic increase, which occurred between 1050 and 550 BCE, had previously been documented in artifacts from the Azores, Bulgaria, and China through archaeomagnetic analyses. These analyzes involve examining the grains of pottery and archaeological ceramic objects to obtain clues about the Earth’s magnetic activity. This time, it was the bricks from Mesopotamia which helped to confirm and enrich our knowledge of this period of strong magnetic activity.
Archaeomagnetism and dating:
Archaeomagnetic analysis is a valuable technique for dating inorganic artifacts such as pottery and ceramic objects. While radiocarbon dating is used for artifacts containing organic material, archaeomagnetic analysis is necessary to reveal the age of inorganic objects. This technique is particularly useful because pottery is the most common artifact at archaeological sites around the world. It makes it possible to complete radiocarbon dating and determine more precisely the age of Mesopotamian sites, a region of capital importance in world archaeology.
Understanding the Earth’s magnetic field:
The Earth’s magnetic field is generated by the swirling movement of molten metals in the Earth’s core and creates an invisible bubble of magnetism called the magnetosphere. This magnetosphere protects our atmosphere from solar winds emanating from the sun. Although the magnetic field has been a constant presence for billions of years, its intensity varies over time. The study of bricks fired at high temperature makes it possible to find an “imprint” of the magnetic field of the time in minerals such as iron oxide. This analysis combines several magnetic experiments that heat and cool the object, subject it to magnetic fields and then remove them. These different imprints are compared to the original magnetic intensity of the object, which makes it possible to date it.
Conclusion :
The discovery of magnetic signatures in bricks from Mesopotamia allows us to better understand the fluctuations of the Earth’s magnetic field over time. Archaeomagnetism is therefore an essential method for determining the age of inorganic objects and contributes enormously to our understanding of the Earth’s magnetic field. The results of this research also demonstrate the importance of preserving the ancient heritage of Mesopotamia, not only for science, but also for humanity as a whole. The transmission of knowledge and discoveries made thanks to these ancient artifacts is an essential means of preserving our history and better understanding the evolution of our planet.