Peat Deposits as a New Source of Paleomagnetic Records in the Holocene as Exemplified by the Etrussia Excursion

This paper presents the results of microprobe, paleomagnetic, and rock magnetic studies on peats from the Tyapka peat section (Khabarovsk krai) up to the turn of 4 ka BP. The alternating field demagnetization of peats yielded a horizon of 57–109 cm (1833–3083 cal. BP) with negative inclination values of the magnetization vector corresponding to the geomagnetic Etrussia excursion. The relative paleointensity estimates obtained for peats for the first time are consistent with the literature archeomagnetic data on the western part of Eurasia. According to the results of this study, the Etrussia excursion took place against the background of increased values of the Earth’s magnetic field and lasted for ~1200 years.