KWIK SAVE, 49-53, COMMERCIAL ROAD, HEREFORD, HEREFORDSHIRE: ARCHAEOMAGNETIC DATING REPORT 2001
Author(s): Paul Linford
A stone-lined flue feature incorporating a broken quern stone was discovered by Archenfield Archaeology during evaluation excavations at 49-53, Commercial Road, Hereford. The feature possibly has parallels with a medieval corn dryer found previously in Hereford, which reused Roman masonry in its construction. Archaeomagnetic analysis of heated clay from the floor of the flue indicated that it had not been subjected to particularly intense heat during its operation. Nevertheless, it was possible to obtain a mean thermoremanent direction of magnetisation for the feature with sufficient precision to infer a date range. This direction corresponded to a magnetic pole position that has occurred more than once in the last 2000 years. Hence two possible archaeomagnetic date ranges can be inferred, one in the 3rd century AD, the other in the late 13th century AD. Archaeological evidence suggests that the former range would be extremely unlikely.
- Report Number:
- 93/2001
- Series:
- CfA Reports
- Pages:
- 17
- Keywords:
- Archaeomagnetism
