The structure and bonding of amorphous carbon nanowires and amorphous carbon nanowires-converted multiwalled carbon nanotubes have been investigated with carbon K-edge near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure using surface-sensitive total electron yield, and bulk-sensitive fluorescence yield. The results strongly support that amorphous carbon nanowire is a precursor to multiwalled carbon nanotubes. © 2001 American Institute of Physics.