S U M M A R YA catalogue has been compiled of existing published and unpublished archaeomagnetic directional data from sites in Germany. The data comprise 125 results dated mainly in the past two millennia. The stability of the natural remanent magnetization was proven for most structures with at least a Thellier viscosity test, although for the majority of the data the direction is based on the characteristic remanent magnetization obtained from demagnetization experiments. Rock magnetic experiments carried out on the samples from many of the sites reveal that the dominant magnetic carrier is magnetite, often oxidized or with impurities. For many sites the archaeological age estimate is supported by physical dating methods. While the Roman epoch (0-400 AD) and the period from medieval to modern times (800-1700 AD) are reasonably well covered with data, the time interval in between and the first millennium BC are only poorly covered. The geographical distribution of data throughout Germany shows a concentration along the Rhine valley during Roman times, with in general a better coverage to the north. Nevertheless this data set clearly shows the secular variation during the past three millennia, and it extends the European archaeomagnetic data set considerably.

S U M M A R YHigh-resolution palaeomagnetic studies on a collection of nearly 350 specimens. taken from a 1.30m thick section of an Upper Pleistocene loess profile from the Tonchesberg (Germany), are described. The Blake magnetic polarity episode is recorded in a layer above the partly eroded palaeosol of the Eemian interglacial. It is identified by its stratigraphic position and thermoluminescence data (=90.0-110.0 kyr: Zoller, Conard & Hahn 1991;Frechen 1991Frechen , 1992.Magnetite and haematite contribute to the natural remanent magnetization (NRM). Directional behaviour during thermal and alternating-field cleaning suggests that magnetite carries a primary, (post-)depositional remanent magnetization (pDRM) and haematite a secondary, chemical remanent magnetization (CRM) of early diagenetic origin.

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Four pottery kilns from Bruhl-Pingsdorf (Germany) were dated by comparing their characteristic remanent magnetization with a curve of the palaeo-secular variation of the geomagnetic field. Archaeomagnetic results suggest last heating events between AD 775 and 1020. The archaeological evidence generally supports the relative temporal succession and the duration of use, but indicates that the kilns are about 150 years younger on average. Hence, a systematic offset between these independently developed chronologies must be considered. Rock magnetic parameters display radial variations through the kiln walls. These variations are controlled by the maximum temperature the rock was exposed to. These parameters were used to identify specimen which acquired a thermoremanent magnetization.

Abstract. We present a rock magnetic study on ca. 100 specimens from a 7.5 m travertine section (BMH) and a parallel 1.0m profile (BMP) to evaluate vertical and lateral variations. Concentration dependent parameters and interparametric ratios point to varying redox conditions through time and space suggesting local paleoenvironmental rather than paleoclimatic control of the rock magnetic properties.