Abstract
In order to study the correlation between the highly resistive property against corrosion and the production method of the ancient iron artifacts, it is essentially necessary to determine the accurate ages of them. 14C dating with accelerator mass spectrometry was applied to the two ancient artifacts, a Japanese sword of wroughtiron with a production age ranged from the Kamakura to the Muromachi period, estimation based on the fabrication technique, and a planing adze of cast iron with no definite origin. The former was dated as 880±150 y.B.P., corresponding to the calendar age ranged from AD 1021 to AD 1263, and the latter as 1720±160 y.B.P. with the calendar age ranged from AD 119 to AD 457 and from AD 483 to AD 508. These calibrated 14C ages for both iron artifacts are consistent with the relevant ages conjectured by historical considerations.
