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Letter RGeology glossary

Radiocarbon Dating

Radiocarbon dating is a method for determining the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of carbon-14. This technique is essential in archaeology, paleontology, and geology for dating relatively recent events up to about 50,000 years ago.

Carbon-14 radiocarbon dating atomic decay diagram
Fig. 1 Carbon-14 radiocarbon dating atomic decay diagram

Source Taylor, R. E. (1987). “Radiocarbon Dating: An Archaeological Perspective.” Academic Press.

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