Sixun Yuan

The use of AMS radiocarbon dating for Xia–Shang–Zhou chronology

Abstract The possibility and problems of using radiocarbon dating to historical chronology are discussed. The current situation of ancient Chinese chronology and the project of Xia–Shang–Zhou chronology are introduced. A chronological study requires the AMS radiocarbon dating with high precision, high reliability and high efficiency. The Peking University AMS facility (PKUAMS) has been upgraded and a series of quality control steps were adopted. To reduce the error of calendar age, wiggle matching with serial samples should be used. Some preliminary results of Xia–Shang–Zhou chronology are presented.

STATUS OF THE TANDEM ACCELERATOR MASS-SPECTROMETRY FACILITY AT PEKING-UNIVERSITY

Abstract A description of the EN tandem accelerator mass spectrometry system at Peking University is given. Progress in the bench test of the ion source, the reassembly and commissioning of the EN tandem and the sample preparation facilities is presented. In addition to 14 C and 10 Be analysis, 26 Al and 36 Cl will also be studied.

Comparison of different bone pretreatment methods for AMS 14C dating

Abstract Bone sample preparation has been studied in detail to find a suitable method for the processing of smaller sample amounts such as oracle bones. In a recent research project only 1 g of bone material will be available for radiocarbon dating of these valuable bones with the AMS method. The standard methods for the preparation of gelatin were compared with the amino acids treated by XAD-2 resin. Additionally, it was tested if the alkaline step in the procedure may be skipped or not. According to our results we may conclude that for well preserved bones the gelatin production yields reliable results. We could also show that the XAD-2 treatment is an effective method for the removal of humic acids.

Improvements of PKUAMS for precision 14C analysis of the project of Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology

To meet the requirements of the Xia‐Shang‐Zhou Chronology project, an upgrade of the AMS facility at Peking University has been carried out, commencing in 1996, and a new sample preparation system with high eAciency and low memory has been set up in the Department of Archaeology. A NEC MC-SNICS ion source has been installed and the injection system has been reconstructed. Computer control of the beam line has been implemented using Group 3 ControlNet, and a new data acquisition system has been developed. The alignment and vacuum of the beam line have also been improved. The upgraded system was commissioned in 1998. Subsequent experience has led to eAcient procedures for beam tuning and 14 C/ 13 C measurement. A precision of 0.5% in the 14 C/ 13 C ratio has been achieved. Many samples have now been measured for the Xia‐Shang‐Zhou Chronology project. ” 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All

AMS radiocarbon dating of cemetery of Jin Marquises in China

Abstract Bones are very important samples to determine the hosts of the cemetery of Jin Marquises which were excavated at Tianma-Qucun site in Shanxi Province in China. In order to obtain accurate AMS radiocarbon dates, bones were pretreated by two kinds of methods, the gelatin-extraction method and the amino-acid method. Charcoals collected from the same sites were also used. The measured dates agree with historical record.

Accelerator mass spectrometry at Peking University: experiments and progress

Abstract The Peking University accelerator mass spectrometer (PKUAMS) has been put into routine operation. 14C measurements of archaeological samples with fast cycling injection have shown good results. The new multi-target high-intensity sputtering ion source has been tested and 10Be measurements were carried out with a new detector in which both the stopping of the intense flux of 10B ions and the identification of 10Be ions are performed. 26A1 samples were also measured. While various applications show good prospects for PKUAMS, further upgrade is desirable.

Data analysis and calibration of radiocarbon dating results from the cemetery of the Marquises of Jin

The chronology study of the cemetery of Marquises of Jin is valuable to improving the chronological table of Marquis of Jin family. It is also helpful for improving the chronological table of the Zhou Dynasty. The samples were measured at Peking University (PKUAMS). We also made an interlaboratory check with Isotrace to ensure the accuracy. By careful analysis of archaeological information, we built different models and calibrated by OxCal. The calibration results, both sampling contexts and estimations, are in very good agreement with the historical record. Because the dates of some events correspond to the special part of the curve, the calibration gets very high precision. The calibration result of tomb M93 suggests that its host is Marquis Shangshu instead of Marquis Wen.

The CO2 preparation system for AMS dating at Peking University

Abstract CN analyzer was already applied in CO2 preparation system for AMS dating in the Research Lab for Archaeology & the History of Art in Oxford several years ago [1] . Now a line of combustion with an Elementar Vario EL CHNS elemental analyzer was built in the Dating Lab in the Department of Archaeology at Peking University. This system has many advantages, such as obtaining purer CO2, simultaneously measuring C, N, S etc. elements and C/N. A sample gases (i.e., CO2, CO etc.) recollection system was also built in this lab to recover the CO2 in case of the failure of graphitization.

AMS RADIOCARBON DATING OF BONE SAMPLES FROM THE XINZHAI SITE IN CHINA

Xinzhai is an important archaeological site discovered 40 yr ago and recently re-excavated in the Henan Province, dynasty of China. Radiocarbon measurements on bone samples from this site were performed at the Peking University AMS facility (PKU-AMS) and the Vienna University AMS facility (VERA). Calibrated ages were obtained with the computer program OxCal. The results of these measurements are presented and the related chronology is discussed.

AMS RADIOCARBON DATING OF THE FENGXI SITE IN SHAANXI, CHINA

The Fengxi site is near the Feng River in Shaanxi Province, China. Feng City was the capital of the vassal state of Zhou, and the Zhou people lived in this area until the end of the Western Zhou. Serial samples of charcoal, bone, and charred millet were collected from the site and dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). A sequence model with 6 phases of the Western Zhou dynasty was constructed and the 14C ages were calibrated with OxCal v 3.9. The results showed that the site was used from 11701070 BC until 825755 BC, and the Conquest of Shang by King Wu most probably occurred during 10601000 BC.