AMS Radiocarbon Dating of the Fengxi Site in Shaanxi, China

Abstract

The Fengxi site is near the Feng River in Shaanxi Province, China. Feng City was the capital of the vassal state of Zhou, and the Zhou people lived in this area until the end of the Western Zhou. Serial samples of charcoal, bone, and charred millet were collected from the site and dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). A sequence model with 6 phases of the Western Zhou dynasty was constructed and the 14C ages were calibrated with OxCal v 3.9. The results showed that the site was used from 1170-1070 BC until 825-755 BC, and the Conquest of Shang by King Wu most probably occurred during 1060-1000 BC.