We present new archaeointensity data from the Mesopotamian city of Mari (Syria), in particular from the high terrace 'Massif Rouge' dated at c.2550 BCE. These data were obtained using the experimental protocol developed for the Triaxe magnetometer. They allow for increased confidence in a strong geomagnetic field intensity maximum during the 26th century BCE. They also show that the second urban phase of Mari ('ville II') was marked by a decrease in the geomagnetic field intensity. We use this evolution to propose a relative chronology between different ensembles of fragments, thus highlighting some renovations in the Royal Palace of ville II.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.