Radiocarbon dating of a Japanese ancient document 'Minamoto no Yoritomo Sodehan Migyosho' by AMS

In this study, radiocarbon age of a Japanese ancient document 'Minamoto no Yoritomo Sodehan Migyosho' was measured by AMS. The purpose of this study is to judge whether the document is genuine or not. The document descended to the Matsugi family which had controlled the craftsmen of metal casting. The document has a description of the written age, AD1189. The content of the document is about the formal recognition of their authority over the craftsmen by Minamoto no Yoritomo who established the first military government in AD1192. This document is written on a slightly-blackish-paper sheet called Shukushi. Shukushi paper sheets had been commonly used for the official documents of the Emperor. Therefore, if the document was really issued by Minamoto no Yoritomo, it can be a sole example as the document of warrior class among the extant Shukushi paper. The paleographical views, however, suggested that the document may be a counterfeit written in several centuries later. Japanese paper fragment is a suitable sample for radiocarbon dating because there is little discrepancy between the calibrated radiocarbon age and the written age. The calibrated radiocarbon age of 'Minamoto no Yoritomo Sodehan Migyosho' indicated the 16th century or the first half of the 17th century. This age corresponds to the period when the ancestor of Matsugi family appeared in Japanese history. This result shows that the document was forged in the Warring State Period for the legitimacy of their control over the craftsmen. The Shukusi used for the counterfeit document of warrior class is the outcome of the forger's misunderstanding that Shukushi paper should be used for the important documents.