Magnetic properties of charcoal rich deposits associated with a Roman bath-house, Butrint (Southern Albania)

A section adjacent to a building structure at Shën Dëli, Butrint, Southern Albania exposes what is believed to be the remains of a former Roman bath-house. This section shows a transition from the underlying natural marsh clay into an archaeological deposit, which is both the basal remains of a building structure, and what appears to be an ash and charcoal enriched midden. The micro and macrocharcoal, magnetic and physical properties indicate a number of phases in the archaeological deposits, culminating in the micro and macrocharcoal rich and magnetically enhanced midden. The magnetic properties of these deposits are strongly related to the charcoal content that is probably a reflection of the ash content. The midden deposit is strongly enhanced in both superparamagnetic and low coercivity magnetite. The charcoal content and magnetic properties of the midden indicate a high content of wood-ash produced at the bath-house site, which is consistent with the anticipated fuel source for the region in Roman times.