The combined application of PIXE analysis and thermoluminescence (TL) dating for elucidating the origin of iron manufacturing in Japan

Abstract For elucidating the origin of iron manufacturing in Japan, the usefulness of PIXE analysis was reconfirmed and a new technique of thermoluminescence (TL) dating was applied. Through reproducing experiments of iron manufacturing and forging, PIXE analysis was tested for classifying the iron slag produced from these two different process. The TL dating method was improved for experiments with the iron manufacturing furnace, burnt at high temperature (about 1300 K) and irradiated with relatively low dose. Utilizing PIXE analysis, the iron manufacturing furnace can be distinguished from the older forging furnace used for the imported iron plate. Adopting TL dating, the oldest iron manufacturing furnace can be found out. Some ancient samples in Japan were used as a test of this combined application, and the results were positive, thus proving the suitability of the method.