Radiocarbon dating is a method used by scientists to determine the age of organic materials. It measures the amount of carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, in a sample and compares it to known levels to estimate the age of the sample.
Radiocarbon dating is generally considered accurate within a range of 100-200 years. However, the accuracy can vary depending on the sample and the laboratory conducting the dating. It is important to note that radiocarbon dating can only provide an estimate of age, not an exact date.
Radiocarbon dating is primarily used on organic materials, such as bones, plants, and wood. It is not typically used on inorganic materials, such as rocks or minerals, as they do not contain carbon.
Radiocarbon dating is limited to materials that were once living and have not been contaminated by external sources of carbon. It also has a maximum age limit of approximately 50,000 years, as the amount of carbon-14 in a sample becomes too small to accurately measure beyond this point.
Radiocarbon dating is not only used in archaeology and anthropology, but also in other fields such as geology, paleontology, and environmental science. It can be used to date geological events, such as volcanic eruptions, and to track changes in the Earth's climate over time.