2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Radiocarbon dating of ancient iron artifacts with high precision: Extension of measurements from metal iron to rusty iron samples
| Project/Area Number |
17H02017
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Cultural assets study and museology
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| Research Institution | Nagoya University |
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Principal Investigator |
Nakamura Toshio 名古屋大学, 宇宙地球環境研究所, 名誉教授 (10135387)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
齋藤 努 国立歴史民俗博物館, 大学共同利用機関等の部局等, 教授 (50205663)
山田 哲也 公益財団法人元興寺文化財研究所, 研究部, 研究員 (80261212)
南 雅代 名古屋大学, 宇宙地球環境研究所, 教授 (90324392)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
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| Keywords | 放射性炭素 / 放射性炭素年代測定 / 古代鉄資料 / 鉄サビ部の年代測定 / 石英管燃焼法 / 鉄中炭素の回収率 / 加速器質量分析 / 14C年代の暦年較正 |
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| Outline of Final Research Achievements |
The age of ancient iron artifacts can be measured by using carbon component that was included during the iron-producing stage. To extract carbon in a form of CO2, a quartz tube was used for metal iron combustion and carbon recovery of almost 90% for 24 standard iron materials was attained. We analyzed several iron flakes collected from Japanese swords whose ages were estimated by the inscription on the sword surface or by the traditional judgment of their appearances. The 14C dates obtained were almost consistent with the judgments, suggesting that 14C dating is a useful tool to certificate the traditional value of the swords.
In addition, we analyzed rust nail samples from archeological sites in India in the same way as pure metal iron. The carbon contents of the rust nails were almost similar to those of metal iron samples. The obtained 14C ages were consistent with their archeological chronology, showing that 14C dating can be applied successfully to iron rust samples.
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| Free Research Field |
理化学的年代測定学
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| Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements |
人類の文化発展の研究において、世界、また日本における鉄利用の歴史の編年は、非常に重要な研究テーマである。これまでは鉄資料自体の年代測定を実施することがきわめて限られていたため、鉄資料の編年において代替試料の年代測定で済ませて編年を行っていた。また日本刀では、刀に刻まれた文字の判読や刀の形状・刃紋などの概観を観察して鑑定士が判定してきた。このため古代鉄・日本刀の編年の信頼度が不十分なものとなっていた。本研究により、日本刀や各地で発掘される鉄試料について、金属鉄はもとより錆びた鉄についても、その製作年代が高精度・高確度で明らかになれば、鉄資料の編年研究が大きく進展するものと期待される。
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