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

For elucidating the origin of iron manufacturing in Japan, the usefulness o f PIXE analysis was reconfirmed and a new technique of thermoluminescence ( TL) dating was applied. Through reproducing experiments of iron manufacturi ng and forging, PIXE analysis was tested for classifying the iron slag prod uced from these two different process. The TL dating method was improved fo r experiments with the iron manufacturing furnace, burnt at high temperatur e (about 1300 K) and irradiated with relatively low dose. Utilizing PIXE an alysis, the iron manufacturing furnace can be distinguished from the older forging furnace used for the imported iron plate. Adopting TL dating, the o ldest iron manufacturing furnace can be found out. Some ancient samples in Japan were used as a test of this combined application, and the results wer e positive, thus proving the suitability of the method. (C) 1999 Elsevier S cience B.V. All rights reserved.