Archaeomagnetic Research Program

Statistical Research, Inc. (SRI) has
combined the resources and personnel
from the Colorado State University
Archaeometric Laboratory and the
University of Arizona Archaeomagnetic
Program to create a comprehensive
archaeomagnetic research program with
ties to the University of Arizona
Department of Anthropology’s
Integrative Graduate Education and
Research Traineeship (IGERT) program
for archaeological science.

SRI provides archaeomagnetic services
to researchers from cultural resource
management, academic, avocational, and
non-profit institutions.

Objectives and Goals:

• Provide a high-quality, client-tailored product
• Pursue archaeomagnetic applications for the study of relevant sociocultural topics
• Compile and maintain a comprehensive archaeomagnetic database for broad-scale regional studies
• Expand the temporal and spatial coverage of archaeomagnetic data

SWCV2000, the latest Southwest master curve.

How It Works:

Archaeomagnetic dating works by
comparing the paleomagnetic directions
recovered from in situ, fired sediments
and soils to a regional calibration curve
(see illustration).

Because it directly dates an archaeological
event of interest (e.g., the last use
of certain features), archaeomagnetism is
one of the few contextually sound
chronometric techniques available today.