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14C Dating Ancient Japanese Documents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Hirotaka Oda ,
Toshio Nakamura  and
Michiaki Furukawa
Hirotaka Oda
Affiliation:
Dating and Materials Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-01 Japan
Toshio Nakamura
Affiliation:
Dating and Materials Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-01 Japan
Michiaki Furukawa
Affiliation:
Dating and Materials Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-01 Japan
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Abstract

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We measured radiocarbon ages of 11 pieces of ancient Japanese documents by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The purpose of this study is to compare the relationship between the calibrated 14C age and the historical age of Japanese paper samples. Calibrated ages of nine pieces agree with their historical ages, indicating that Japanese ancient documents can be used for 14C dating in the recent historic period. On the other hand, the 14C age of paper that was used for reinforcement of a sutra is ca. 300 yr older than the historical age of the sutra. This shows that the sutra was repaired with old paper.

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