Radiocarbonålder

Radiocarbonålder, also known as carbon-14 dating, is a scientific method used to determine the age of organic materials. It relies on the decay of the radioactive isotope carbon-14 (¹⁴C), which is present in all living organisms. When an organism dies, it stops taking in carbon from its environment, and the ¹⁴C within it begins to decay at a known rate, with a half-life of approximately 5,730 years.

By measuring the amount of ¹⁴C remaining in a sample and comparing it to the amount expected in a living organism, scientists can calculate how much time has passed since the organism's death. This method is particularly useful for dating archaeological artifacts, fossils, and other organic remains that are between a few hundred and tens of thousands of years old.

The accuracy of radiocarbon dating can be affected by various factors, including contamination of the sample and variations in the atmospheric concentration of ¹⁴C over time. Calibration curves, which are developed using independently dated materials like tree rings, are used to correct for these variations and provide more precise age estimates. Radiocarbon dating has revolutionized many fields, including archaeology, geology, and paleontology, by providing a reliable tool for establishing timelines and understanding past events.