High-precision age determination of Holocene samples by radiocarbon dating with accelerator mass spectrometry at Nagoya University

Abstract Age determination with high accuracy as well as high resolution is a principal procedure in the research of Quaternary processes, such as volcanic eruptions, lacustrine and ocean sedimentation, and recent fault activation, for investigating past global environmental changes and predicting the realistic changes in the near future. Among several dating techniques applicable to late Quaternary samples, radiocarbon dating has been commonly used since 1950, although its application is limited to ages younger than ca. 50 cal ka BP. In particular, recent developments of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)-related techniques have opened a variety of applications. A Tandetron AMS system (Model 4130-AMS, HVE, B.V., the Netherlands) introduced in 1996/97 at Nagoya University, still has excellent performance, and this device has been used frequently for 14 C dating of late Quaternary samples. Here, we describe briefly the AMS 14 C-measurement system of Nagoya University and then focus on the following four applications for Japanese Holocene samples: i) 14 C dating and dendrochronological analysis of wood samples excavated from archeological sites; ii) 14 C dating analysis of individual annual rings of a huge tree to compare the 14 C age variations with the IntCal13 dataset; iii) research on the carbon reservoir effects of marine samples around the Japanese Archipelago; iv) potential application of a new 14 C landmark for precise calendar age estimation of tree rings.