radiokarbondátumozás

Radiokarbondátumozás, also known as radiocarbon dating or carbon-14 dating, is a scientific method used to determine the age of organic materials. This technique relies on the radioactive isotope of carbon, carbon-14 (¹⁴C), which is naturally present in the atmosphere. Living organisms absorb ¹⁴C from the environment through processes like photosynthesis and consumption.

Once an organism dies, it stops exchanging carbon with its surroundings. The ¹⁴C within the organism begins to decay at a known and constant rate, characterized by its half-life of approximately 5,730 years. By measuring the remaining amount of ¹⁴C in a sample and comparing it to the initial atmospheric concentration, scientists can calculate how much time has passed since the organism's death.

Radiocarbon dating is effective for dating materials up to around 50,000 years old. Beyond this age, the amount of ¹⁴C remaining becomes too small to measure accurately. The method is widely used in archaeology, paleontology, and geology to date fossils, artifacts, and other organic remains, providing crucial insights into the past. Calibration curves are used to correct for variations in atmospheric ¹⁴C levels over time, improving the accuracy of the dates obtained.