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Radiocarbon-based approach capable of subannual precision resolves the origins of the site of Por-Bajin.
- Source :
-
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A] 2020 Jun 23; Vol. 117 (25), pp. 14038-14041. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Jun 08. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Inadequate resolution is the principal limitation of radiocarbon dating. However, recent work has shown that exact-year precision is attainable if use can be made of past increases in atmospheric radiocarbon concentration or so-called Miyake events. Here, this nascent method is applied to an archaeological site of previously unknown age. We locate the distinctive radiocarbon signal of the year 775 common era (CE) in wood from the base of the Uyghur monument of Por-Bajin in Russia. Our analysis shows that the construction of Por-Bajin started in the summer of 777 CE, a foundation date that resolves decades of debate and allows the origin and purpose of the building to be established.<br />Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest.<br /> (Copyright © 2020 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1091-6490
- Volume :
- 117
- Issue :
- 25
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 32513700
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1921301117