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Hama's Ancient Pottery Reveals Secrets of Earth's Magnetic Field

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A study of ancient pottery from Hama, Syria, reveals insights into Earth's magnetic history and the timeline of the city's destruction by the Assyrians in 720 BC.

The ability of pottery to retain magnetic signatures provides a unique method for dating artifacts and understanding historical events.

The findings challenge previous assumptions about the lifespan of everyday pottery in ancient cultures, suggesting they may have been used longer than expected.

The uniformity of magnetic field strength across the Middle East during the relevant period indicates interconnectedness among ancient civilizations.

Future research may uncover more about the relationship between ancient civilizations and their environments through similar studies of pottery and other artifacts.

As archaeomagnetic techniques advance, they could lead to more precise dating of historical events and a deeper understanding of ancient societies' responses to environmental changes.


The Syrian city of Hama, a significant center of ancient civilization, has provided insights into Earth's magnetic history through the analysis of pottery dating back 2,700 years. A recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science reveals that pottery from Hama retains magnetic signatures that reflect the Earth's magnetic field during its creation. This research, led by Yves Galet from the Paris Institute of Geophysics, indicates that the pottery can serve as a tool for understanding historical changes in the magnetic field and determining the timeline of events, including the city's destruction by the Assyrian army in 720 BC.

Researchers analyzed 16 pottery pieces from Hama, using a triaxial magnetometer to measure their magnetic fields. The findings showed variations in magnetic intensity, suggesting that the pottery was used over different periods before the city's destruction. The study highlights that these vessels, typically expected to have a short lifespan, may have been in use for at least 30 years prior to the city's fall, indicating a rich history of daily life in ancient Hama.

The study also noted that the magnetic field strength in the region was relatively uniform across the Middle East during the period leading up to the destruction, allowing for comparisons with artifacts from other archaeological sites. The researchers emphasized that the differences in magnetic readings were due to the unique magnetic properties of the pottery samples rather than variations in raw materials or manufacturing techniques.

  • The research underscores the importance of archaeomagnetism in reconstructing historical timelines and understanding the environmental conditions of ancient civilizations. By analyzing the magnetic properties of pottery, scientists can gain insights into not only the timeline of human activity but also the geological and magnetic changes that have occurred over millennia.
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Refs: | Aljazeera |

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