Hostname: page-component-cc8bf7c57-77pjf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-11T22:15:27.039Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Radiocarbon Dating of Ancient Canoes from Guangxi, China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2016

Yongjing Guan ,
Xiangdong Ruan ,
Zhaoming Xiong ,
Huijuan Wang  and
Filippo Terrasi
Yongjing Guan
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and GXU-NAOC Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Xiangdong Ruan*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and GXU-NAOC Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Zhaoming Xiong
Affiliation:
Guangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Nanning 530023, China
Huijuan Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and GXU-NAOC Center for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Filippo Terrasi
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences, Second University of Naples, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
*
2Corresponding author. Email: [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Several canoes were excavated from coastal rivers in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southwest China. In order to confirm the age of the canoes, 6 samples were selected for radiocarbon dating from 3 canoes. The mean value of canoe NLJ was 365 ± 35 BP, and 2 samples from canoes MLJ and DFJ were 520 ± 21 and 499 ± 33 BP, respectively. The calendar ages cover a period from AD 1328 to 1641 at the 95% confidence level. These results disagree with previous studies that suggested canoes were only used over 1000 yr ago in China. We discuss the possible reasons for the results being younger than expected.

Type
Archaeology of Eurasia and Africa
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 55 , Issue 3: Proceedings of the 21st International Radiocarbon Conference (Part 2 of 2) , 2013 , pp. 1366 - 1370
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009. Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 51(1):337–60.Google Scholar
Cui, T. 2004. Canoe belongs to Sui and Tang Dynasties was excavated in Laizhou, Shandong. China Cultural Relics News, 2004-11-12(2). In Chinese.Google Scholar
Hu, J. Canoe belongs to Shang Dynasty was excavated in Xinyang. Henan Daily, 2010-8-7(3). In Chinese.Google Scholar
Jiang, L, Liu, L. 2005. The discovery of an 8000-year-old dugout canoe at Kuahuqiao in the Lower Yangzi River, China. Project Gallery 305. Antiquity 79: URL http://www.antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/liu/.Google Scholar
Jin, B. 1990. Canoe belongs to Tang dynasty excavated in Xishan site, Wenzhou City. Archaeology 12:1138–9. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Liu, K, Ding, X, Fu, D, Pan, Y, Wu, X, Guo, Z, Zhou, L. 2007. A new compact AMS system at Peking University. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 259(1):23–6.Google Scholar
Marzaioli, F, Boriello, G, Passariello, I, Lubritto, C, De Cesare, N, D'Onofrio, A, Terrasi, F. 2008. Zinc reduction as an alterative method for AMS radiocarbon dating: process optimization at CIRCE. Radiocarbon 50(1):139–49.Google Scholar
Qu, J, Chen, Z. 2008. An Introduction to Chinese Art Heritage of Marine Culture: Pre-Qin Dynasty and Qin-Han Dynasties. Qingdao: China Ocean University Press. p 292–326. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Baillie, MGL, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, JW, Blackwell, PG, Bronk Ramsey, C, Buck, CE, Burr, GS, Edwards, RL, Friedrich, M, Grootes, PM, Guilderson, TP, Hajdas, I, Heaton, T, Hogg, AG, Hughen, KA, Kaiser, KF, Kromer, B, McCormac, FG, Manning, SW, Reimer, RW, Richards, DA, Southon, JR, Talamo, S, Turney, CSM, van der Plicht, J, Weyhenmeyer, CE. 2009. IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 51(4):1111–50.Google Scholar
Terrasi, F, De Cesare, N, D'Onofrio, A, Lubritto, C, Marzaioli, F, Passariello, I, Rogalla, D, Sabbarese, C, Borriello, G, Casa, G, Palmieri, A. 2008. High precision 14C AMS at CIRCE. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 266(10):2221–4.Google Scholar
Wu, C. 2008. Prehistoric transportation means in Southeast of China and Pacific Ocean. Relics from the South 2:99–108. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Yuan, X. 2004. Comparative study between Xia'an shipwreck and other ancient boats in wreck in China. Contemporary Korea 4:25–9. In Chinese.Google Scholar
Zhou, J, Zhao, Y, Zhuang, H. 1999. Reconstruction of the canoe unearthed in Yancheng site. Eastern and Southern Culture 3:122–3. In Chinese.Google Scholar