Radiocarbon Chronology for Early Caves of the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang, China

Radiocarbon dating of plant remains from four early caves at the Mogao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of China's largest stone cave temples, reveals that these caves were constructed between AD 380–550. The study, using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), analyzed samples from caves 268, 272, 275, and 285—with the latter containing an inscription corroborating its early dating. Two samples from cave 275 yielded a precise calibrated age range of AD 380–430, while other samples spanned AD 400–550. This chronology provides critical insight into the origins and development of this significant Buddhist cultural site during the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Qinglin, G., Takabayashi, H., Nakamura, T., Gangquan, C., Okada, K., Bomin, S., Yuquan, F., & Nishimoto, H. (2010). Radiocarbon Chronology for Early Caves of the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang, China. Radiocarbon, 52(2), 500–510. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033822200045537