Accuracy of radioactive dating
02-Jun-2020 16:48
Chronological sequence is all that is really required.However, human beings love to see factual precision, and we want to know how old something is.Four main methods have been used in Willandra archaeology.This well known method was the first technique that became available for accurate dating of old materials.Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 years so dating is limited to between a few hundred and about 50,000 years. It is also important that samples for dating are collected carefully to ensure they have not been contaminated with more recent carbon.
It is most useful for minerals older than 100,000 years and can reach way back into the geological past.
The method also assumes a 'zeroing' event in the life of the material, when it was either last heated or exposed to sunlight.