Development of Radiocarbon Dating in China Over the Past 50 Years

Abstract

On the arrival of the 50th anniversary of Radiocarbon, we review important developments in radiocarbon dating in China during the past 50 years, especially concerning 3 aspects: sample standard and preparation, accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) facilities, and 14C applications. Specifically, these events are marked by the establishment of the Chinese sucrose charcoal standard in China; the development of small-sample dating in the Xi'an Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); the progress of the AMS facilities in Beijing (China Institute of Atomic Energy and Beijing University); the innovation of the mini-cyclotron-based AMS at Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research, CAS; the exploration of the Xia-Shang-Zhou chronology project in China; the establishment of the Xi'an multi-element AMS at the Xi'an-AMS Center; and the breakthrough in tracing the geomagnetic intensities and precipitation from 10Be in Chinese loess at the Institute of Earth Environment, CAS.