Geophysical insights from the first geomagnetic field absolute intensity curve for central Asia (2200BCE-2000CE), and implications for archaeomagnetic dating.

ABSTRACT: Until now, the lack of high-quality paleointensity data has left Central Asia as a major gap in global and regional reconstructions of geomagnetic field intensity variations. Here, we present the first intensity paleosecular variation curve (PSVC) for Central Asia, spanning the last 4000 years and based on 35 new high-quality paleointensity data obtained from 71 well-dated pottery fragments from Uzbekistan, integrated with previous archaeomagnetic data and direct geomagnetic observations. The new PSVC reveals a long-term increase in field intensity from ~ 32.5 µT (2000 BCE) to a pronounced peak of ~ 79.7 µT (400 BCE), followed by a rapid decline and a distinctive V-shaped minimum between 400 BCE and 400 CE. Cross-correlation with records from the Levant, Greece, and India shows a close mat

SUBMITTER: Bonilla-Alba R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12606362 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature