Unveiling Ancient Mesopotamian Bricks' Magnetic Anomaly

Analysis of ancient Mesopotamian bricks from modern-day Iraq has revealed a dramatic spike in the Earth's magnetic field around 3,000 years ago. The bricks, containing iron oxide, were heated and cooled to erase the ancient magnetic signature and establish a ratio between the object's magnetic charge in the past and under controlled laboratory conditions. This alternative method of artifact dating, known as archaeomagnetic techniques, provides a more precise chronological record compared to traditional methods like carbon dating. The findings shed light on the Levantine Iron Age geomagnetic anomaly and offer insights into ancient Mesopotamia.