Abstract
The aqueduct of Les Ferreres is a major element of the Archaeological Ensemble of Tarraco. Although the ashlars of the aqueduct are stacked without mortar, lime was used in some parts and lime was certainly used in later repairs. Worthy of note is a coating mortar used in a well-documented restoration (1854–1856). In this study, a limekiln found near the Roman aqueduct has been archaeomagnetically dated to determine if it was used for the construction of the aqueduct or in later repairs. The mean values for the measured archaeomagnetic direction from the limekiln were compared with two different archaeomagnetic models (SCHA.DIF.3k and GUMF1), and both indicate that the limekiln is modern with ages only slightly older than the well-documented restoration. The extensive use of the coating mortar in that restoration is consistent with the need of onsite lime production. Additional archaeomagnetic intensity has not contributed to constrain further the obtained archaeomagnetic age but the intensity datum can be added to archaeomagnetic intensity datasets to enhance geomagnetic intensity field models. The paper illustrates how archaeomagnetic dating can be useful to characterize secondary structures of major cultural heritage monuments.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Paleomagnetic Laboratory CCiTUB-ICTJA CSIC where the archaeomagnetic measurements were conducted. Thanks to Salvador López for carrying out part of measurements. Dr. Gregg A. Paterson, who reviewed the manuscript, and the editor are also acknowledged for their suggestions.
Funding
This research was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (project CGL2013-42167-P). MGP also acknowledges the Ramón y Cajal program and the CGL2015-63888-R (MINECO/FEDER) project of the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Research by APM was funded by the Beatriu de Pinós postdoctoral program (2017 BP-A 00046), the Consolidated Research group programs (2017SGR00011 and 2017SGR00970) of the Government of Catalonia’s Secretariat for Universities and Research of the Ministry of Economy and Knowledge, and R+D project (HAR2017-86509-P) of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
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Casas, L., Auguet, C., Guasch-Ferré, N. et al. Archaeomagnetic study of a limekiln in the Les Ferreres Roman aqueduct, World Heritage Site of Tarraco. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 12, 212 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01175-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01175-2