5 ms·

would have been nice if they added a radiocarbon dating of the artefacts too

• JoeAltmaier 12y ago
  Is radiocarbon appropriate for things less than hundreds of thousands of years old?
  • Jtsummers 12y ago
    Just looked it up again to verify my memory. Most sources I can find indicate that it's really only useful for up to 40-50k years back. Beyond that, the amount of carbon-14 is too low to get a good measurement. You'd need to use other (non-carbon) isotope ratios to get ages further back in time. http://geology.cr.usgs.gov/capabilities/gronemtrac/geochron/carbon/tech.html http://geology.cr.usgs.gov/capabilities/gronemtrac/geochron/... via http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/carbon-14.htm http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology...
  • psolo 12y ago
    Yes, see: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/44683433_Radiocarbon-based_chronology_for_dynastic_Egypt http://www.researchgate.net/publication/44683433_Radiocarbon... which is somewhat relevant.