Application of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) to archaeology

Abstract

The AMS technique has contributed markedly to the research topic that the Yayoi period started much earlier than has been generally believed, probably by about 500 years. Recently, AMS, known as an ultrasensitive and high-throughput technique, has gained also high precision, which must promote application to archaeology in the coming many years. In this article, I describe the results from our current research programs that make best use of high-precision 14C dating using the AMS technique including the Yayoi issue.