Archaeomagnetism is an area of research that utilises the magnetic properties of archaeological materials to date past human activity. This research aimed to use the evidence of past geomagnetism, as recorded by archaeological and geological materials, to identify and characterise short timescale changes in the Earth¿s magnetic field. This contribution to the discipline focused on the first millennium BC, as there is evidence that during this time the Earth¿s magnetic field experienced rapid changes in direction. This work focused on an established weakness in archaeomagnetic studies, i.e. the application of archaeological information to assign a date range to the magnetic directions. The date ranges for 232 magnetic directions from 98 Iron Age sites were reviewed and a programme of fieldwork produced 25 new magnetic directions from 11 Iron Age sites across Britain. The approach developed in this thesis has made significant improvements to the data examined, which represent the prehistoric section of the British secular variation curve (SVC). These data have been incorporated into the British archaeomagnetic dataset that now comprises over 1000 magnetic directions and will be used to generate future British SVCs. The potential of the near continuous records of geomagnetic secular variation from British lake sediment sequences to SVCs was explored. This showed that these sediments have recorded the relative changes in the Earth¿s magnetic field but the dating and method of constructing the British master curve requires revision. As SVCs are predominately used as calibration curves for archaeomagnetic dating, this work provides a foundation for a revised and extended British SVC. This revision would be to the mutual benefit of studies in archaeology and archaeomagnetism, as the latter could potentially enable highresolution dating of Iron Age material, providing a viable alternative to radiocarbon dating.

Archaeomagnetism is an area of research that utilises the magnetic properties of archaeological materials to date past human activity. This research aimed to use the evidence of past geomagnetism, as recorded by archaeological and geological materials, to identify and characterise short timescale changes in the Earth¿s magnetic field. This contribution to the discipline focused on the first millennium BC, as there is evidence that during this time the Earth¿s magnetic field experienced rapid changes in direction. This work focused on an established weakness in archaeomagnetic studies, i.e. the application of archaeological information to assign a date range to the magnetic directions. The date ranges for 232 magnetic directions from 98 Iron Age sites were reviewed and a programme of fieldwork produced 25 new magnetic directions from 11 Iron Age sites across Britain. The approach developed in this thesis has made significant improvements to the data examined, which represent the prehistoric section of the British secular variation curve (SVC). These data have been incorporated into the British archaeomagnetic dataset that now comprises over 1000 magnetic directions and will be used to generate future British SVCs. The potential of the near continuous records of geomagnetic secular variation from British lake sediment sequences to SVCs was explored. This showed that these sediments have recorded the relative changes in the Earth¿s magnetic field but the dating and method of constructing the British master curve requires revision. As SVCs are predominately used as calibration curves for archaeomagnetic dating, this work provides a foundation for a revised and extended British SVC. This revision would be to the mutual benefit of studies in archaeology and archaeomagnetism, as the latter could potentially enable highresolution dating of Iron Age material, providing a viable alternative to radiocarbon dating. / Available full-text since June 30th 2013, at the end of the embargo period. / Lab data and appendices 3 and 4 are unavailable online.

L’objectif de ce travail est l’amélioration des courbes de variation séculaire de la direction (inclinaison I et déclinaison D) et de l’intensité (F) du champ magnétique terrestre en Europe occidentale durant le premier millénaire av. J.-C. 47 fours, foyers et lots de tessons céramiques ont été étudiés pour constituer de nouvelles structures de référence. La datation du moment d’acquisition de l’aimantation a été définie en analysant l’ensemble des informations archéologiques et chronométriques disponibles sur les sites. 39 nouvelles archéodirections ont été obtenues après désaimantations thermique et par champ alternatif. Les 18 archéointensités ont été déterminées par le protocole de Thellier-Thellier et généralement corrigées des effets de l’anisotropie et de la vitesse de refroidissement. Les courbes de variation séculaire françaises, construites par moyenne mobile et par la statistique hiérarchique bayésienne, ont été étendues jusqu’en 1500 av. J.-C. pour la direction et jusqu’en 800 av. J.-C. pour l’intensité. L’inclinaison a une variation non monotone entre 65 et 75° entre 1500 et 0 av. J.-C. Les variations de la déclinaison et de l’intensité sont très fortes avec un maximum en 800 av. J.-C. (30° pour D et 90 µT pour F) et un minimum (-5° pour D et 60µT pour F) en 250 av. J.-C. L’interprétation géomagnétique de la variation séculaire est difficile en raison des lacunes des jeux de données de référence hors Europe. Ces nouvelles courbes plus fiables améliorent la datation archéomagnétique au premier millénaire av. J.-C. et étendent son application à l’âge du Bronze final. Du fait de la forte variation séculaire, le premier âge du Fer est la période la plus propice. / This study aims to improve the Western Europe secular variation curve of the direction (inclination I and declination D) and the intensity (F) of the Earth’s magnetic field during the first millennium BC. New archaeomagnetic reference data were obtained from 47 kilns, hearths and sets of pottery sherds with precise magnetization acquisition ages determined through a comprehensive review of available archaeological and chronometric informations. 39 new archaeodirections were computed after thermal and alternating field demagnetizations and 18 new archaeointensities were determined by the Thellier-Thellier protocol with anisotropy and cooling rate corrections. The new French secular variation curves, built using hierarchical bayesian statistics, were extended to 1500BC for the direction and to 800BC for the intensity. Inclination vary non-monotonously (between 65 and 75°) between 1500BC and 0AD. Variations in declination and intensity are very strong with a maximum at 800BC (30° for D and 90µT for F) and a minimum at 250BC (-5° for D and 60µT for F). Interpreting the geomagnetic significance of this strong variation is hindered by the scarcity of data outside Europe. However it provides a useful marker for reliable archaeomagnetic dating in Western Europe during the Iron Age, especially during the Early Iron Age thanks to the strong secular variation. The new directional curve also allows the extension of archaeomagnetic dating to the Final Bronze Age.

O objetivo desta pesquisa é examinar e compreender as concepções de corpo na Assíria do fim do século VIII e do século VII AEC, a partir da análise de fontes palacianas imagéticas e textuais. As primeiras são compostas pelos relevos dos palácios dos reis Senaqueribe (704- 681) e Assurbanipal II (669-627) em Nínive (no atual nordeste do Iraque). As segundas são Inscrições Reais, Tratados e Juramentos, Cartas e textos literários, sendo que todos esses gêneros têm como eixo de produção os palácios assírios. Os relevos são placas de pedra com esculturas em baixo relevo, que foram utilizadas nas paredes dos palácios assírios a partir do final do segundo milênio AEC. Esse uso foi continuado por todo o período denominado Neoassírio ou Tardo Assírio (934-610 AEC), expondo imagens de pessoas, animais, plantas, paisagens e arquiteturas. A configuração desses elementos figurativos expressa cenas de narrativas espaciais por meio de imagens. A disposição orquestrada dos relevos nas paredes dos palácios evidencia potenciais modos de percepção das imagens pela movimentação nos ambientes palacianos. A recorrência da expressão do corpo nos relevos suscita uma perspectiva atenta à materialidade, à relação entre as imagens do corpo e aos modos de percepção e contato com esses objetos no período. A presença constante de expressões corporais em textos neoassírios também constitui um tratamento ao corpo através da linguagem. Considerando a complementaridade entre fontes imagéticas e escritas no período e o fato de as concepções de corpo poderem estar expressas em textos e imagens, qual é o lugar e o uso do corpo neste período? Como o corpo aparece nos relevos e textos palacianos? Quais aspectos materiais dos relevos constituem os indícios da concepção de corpo? Como as imagens do corpo e as expressões corporais escritas indicam suas concepções? / The aim of this research is to examine and comprehend the conceptions of the body in Assyria at the end of the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, from the analysis of palatial images and texts. The visual sources are composed by the reliefs of the kings of Sennacherib (704-681) and Assurbanipal II (669-627) in Nineveh (present-day northern of Iraq). The written sources are Royal Inscriptions, Treaties and Oaths, Letters and literary texts. All these texts had the Assyrian royal palaces as production axis. The reliefs are stone plaques with bas-relief sculptures, which were used on the walls of the Assyrian palaces from the end of the second millennium BCE. This use was continued throughout the period called Neo-Assyrian or Late Assyrian (934-610 BCE), exposing images of people, animals, plants, landscapes and architectures. The configuration of these figurative elements expresses scenes of spatial narratives through images. The orchestrated arrangement of the reliefs on the walls of the palaces shows potential ways of perception of the images by the movement in the palatial environments. The recurrence of the body expression in the reliefs evokes an attentive threefold perspective: on the materiality, the images of the body and the modes of perception and contact with these objects in that period. The constant presence of body expressions in Neo-Assyrian texts also constitutes a way to treat body through language. Considering the complementarity between visual and written sources in the Neo-Assyrian period and the fact that body conceptions can be expressed in texts and images, what is the status and use of the body in this period? How does the body appear in the reliefs and palatial texts? What are the material aspects of the reliefs? How do body images and written body expressions indicate their conceptions?

O objetivo desta pesquisa é examinar e compreender as concepções de corpo na Assíria do fim do século VIII e do século VII AEC, a partir da análise de fontes palacianas imagéticas e textuais. As primeiras são compostas pelos relevos dos palácios dos reis Senaqueribe (704- 681) e Assurbanipal II (669-627) em Nínive (no atual nordeste do Iraque). As segundas são Inscrições Reais, Tratados e Juramentos, Cartas e textos literários, sendo que todos esses gêneros têm como eixo de produção os palácios assírios. Os relevos são placas de pedra com esculturas em baixo relevo, que foram utilizadas nas paredes dos palácios assírios a partir do final do segundo milênio AEC. Esse uso foi continuado por todo o período denominado Neoassírio ou Tardo Assírio (934-610 AEC), expondo imagens de pessoas, animais, plantas, paisagens e arquiteturas. A configuração desses elementos figurativos expressa cenas de narrativas espaciais por meio de imagens. A disposição orquestrada dos relevos nas paredes dos palácios evidencia potenciais modos de percepção das imagens pela movimentação nos ambientes palacianos. A recorrência da expressão do corpo nos relevos suscita uma perspectiva atenta à materialidade, à relação entre as imagens do corpo e aos modos de percepção e contato com esses objetos no período. A presença constante de expressões corporais em textos neoassírios também constitui um tratamento ao corpo através da linguagem. Considerando a complementaridade entre fontes imagéticas e escritas no período e o fato de as concepções de corpo poderem estar expressas em textos e imagens, qual é o lugar e o uso do corpo neste período? Como o corpo aparece nos relevos e textos palacianos? Quais aspectos materiais dos relevos constituem os indícios da concepção de corpo? Como as imagens do corpo e as expressões corporais escritas indicam suas concepções? / The aim of this research is to examine and comprehend the conceptions of the body in Assyria at the end of the 8th and 7th centuries BCE, from the analysis of palatial images and texts. The visual sources are composed by the reliefs of the kings of Sennacherib (704-681) and Assurbanipal II (669-627) in Nineveh (present-day northern of Iraq). The written sources are Royal Inscriptions, Treaties and Oaths, Letters and literary texts. All these texts had the Assyrian royal palaces as production axis. The reliefs are stone plaques with bas-relief sculptures, which were used on the walls of the Assyrian palaces from the end of the second millennium BCE. This use was continued throughout the period called Neo-Assyrian or Late Assyrian (934-610 BCE), exposing images of people, animals, plants, landscapes and architectures. The configuration of these figurative elements expresses scenes of spatial narratives through images. The orchestrated arrangement of the reliefs on the walls of the palaces shows potential ways of perception of the images by the movement in the palatial environments. The recurrence of the body expression in the reliefs evokes an attentive threefold perspective: on the materiality, the images of the body and the modes of perception and contact with these objects in that period. The constant presence of body expressions in Neo-Assyrian texts also constitutes a way to treat body through language. Considering the complementarity between visual and written sources in the Neo-Assyrian period and the fact that body conceptions can be expressed in texts and images, what is the status and use of the body in this period? How does the body appear in the reliefs and palatial texts? What are the material aspects of the reliefs? How do body images and written body expressions indicate their conceptions?

Artefacts acquire/embody migratory meanings according to contexts of raw material manipulation, use, discard and discourse. First-Millennium Agriculturist ceramics and concomitant private and public significances/use values are placed within aspects of a deep past Stone Age history of space and artefact usage in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Some thought paradigms and cultural contexts are examined as having directly influenced discourse, what artefacts were foregrounded, and in which manner writers of southern African prehistory considered them. Thereafter ceramic artefacts and associated technologies are focussed upon as being intimate to personal/ community lifeways and worldviews. Domestic and ceremonial utilityware, figurines and masks, as well as clay usage in homebuilding and metalworking, and urges to apply a mark to malleable clay, or deliberately alter and/or bury ceramic artefacts; are explored as manifestations of medium and usage well suited to regularly reconfigured meanings . / Art History, Visual Arts & Musicology / M.A. (Art History)

Artefacts acquire/embody migratory meanings according to contexts of raw material manipulation, use, discard and discourse. First-Millennium Agriculturist ceramics and concomitant private and public significances/use values are placed within aspects of a deep past Stone Age history of space and artefact usage in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Some thought paradigms and cultural contexts are examined as having directly influenced discourse, what artefacts were foregrounded, and in which manner writers of southern African prehistory considered them. Thereafter ceramic artefacts and associated technologies are focussed upon as being intimate to personal/ community lifeways and worldviews. Domestic and ceremonial utilityware, figurines and masks, as well as clay usage in homebuilding and metalworking, and urges to apply a mark to malleable clay, or deliberately alter and/or bury ceramic artefacts; are explored as manifestations of medium and usage well suited to regularly reconfigured meanings . / Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology / M.A. (Art History)