Radiocarbon dating

Definition and meaning of radiocarbon dating:

radiocarbon dating - a dating method used to determine the age of samples containing carbon. The method measures the disintegration of the 14C atom. 14C is produced in the atmosphere by cosmic ray bombardment, and has a half-life of 5,570 years, making it useful for dating samples in the range of 0-40,000 years

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring isotope carbon-14 to determine the age of carbonaceous materials up to ca 60,000 years. Within archaeology it is considered an absolute dating technique. The technique was discovered by Willard Frank Libby and his colleagues in 1949. In 1960, Libby was awarded the Nobel Prize in chemistry for radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon dating - Basic chemistry. Carbon has two stable, nonradioactive isotopes: carbon-12 (12C), ...

Including:

• Radiocarbon dating - Basic chemistry
• Radiocarbon dating - Measurements and scales
• Radiocarbon dating - Calibration
• Radiocarbon dating - Libby vs Cambridge half-life
• Radiocarbon dating - Examples of carbon dating and historical disputes
• Radiocarbon dating - Note

Read more here: » Radiocarbon dating: Encyclopedia - Radiocarbon dating

Stonehenge

The most famous prehistoric megalith (standing-stone monument) in Europe, located 8 miles north of Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. Excavations and radiocarbon dating have revealed that Stonehenge had an exceptionally long history of use as a ceremonial or religious center or both.

Stonehenge was constructed in three major phases over the period from around 3500 BC to 1100 BC. It originally began as a circular ditch including a bank with a ring of 56 burial pits - named 'Aubrey holes' for their seventeenth-century discoverer, John Aubrey.

Around 2100 BC a double circle of bluestone menhirs (large, rough-hewn standing stones), thought to have come from the Preseli Mountains of southwestern Wales was erected within the earlier ring. In the final stage of construction, from around 2000 BC, a circle of about 30 upright stones (made from local sandstone called 'sarsen') were set up, their tops linked by lintelstones to form a continuous circle about 30 meters (100 feet across).

At a later date, around 1550 BC, the bluestones were finally rearranged in the circle and horseshoe whose remains survive today. Stonehenge is unique because of its long period of use and the precision of its plan and its architectural details.

The traditional thesis that Stonehenge was a Druid temple is untenable, because the Druids did not appear in Britain until a few hundred years before the Christian era. In recent years many attempts have been made to interpret Stonehenge as a prehistoric astronomical observatory, or some form of solar temple, but the site is now so ruined, and so much restored, that any attempt to ascertain its original alignments must rely principally on guesswork.

All that can be said with confidence is that from around 2000 BC onward the structure's axis of symmetry pointed roughly in the direction of the sunrise at the summer solstice. Some New Agers believe that the site has mystical powers or energy.

(See also: Stonehenge, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Carbon-14, or 14C, is a radioactive isotope of carbon discovered February 27, 1940, by Martin Kamen and Sam Ruben. Its nucleus contains 6 protons and 8 neutrons. Its presence in organic materials is used in radiocarbon dating. It occurs naturally and has a relative abundance up to 0.00000000012%. The half-life of carbon-14 is 5730 years. It decays into nitrogen-14 through beta-decay. Carbon-14 is produced in the upper layers of the troposphere and the stratosphere ...

Read more here: » Carbon-14: Encyclopedia - Carbon-14

See also:

Radiocarbon dating, Radiocarbon dating - Basic chemistry, Radiocarbon dating - Measurements and scales, Radiocarbon dating - Calibration, Radiocarbon dating - Libby vs Cambridge half-life, Radiocarbon dating - Examples of carbon dating and historical disputes, Radiocarbon dating - Note

Read more here: » Radiocarbon dating: Encyclopedia II - Radiocarbon dating - Basic chemistry

The Shroud of Turin (or Turin Shroud) is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have been physically traumatized in a manner consistent with crucifixion. It is presently kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, Italy. Some believe it is the cloth that covered Jesus of Nazareth when he was placed in his tomb and that his image was somehow recorded on its fibers at or near the time of his imputed resurrection. Skeptics contend the shroud is a medieval hoax or forgery - or even ...

Including:

• Shroud of Turin - General observations
• Shroud of Turin - History
• Shroud of Turin - Possible history before the 14th century: The Image of Edessa
• Shroud of Turin - 14th century
• Shroud of Turin - 15th century
• Shroud of Turin - 16th century to present
• Shroud of Turin - The controversy
• Shroud of Turin - Theories of image formation
• Shroud of Turin - Second Image on back of cloth
• Shroud of Turin - Analyses of the Shroud
• Shroud of Turin - Textual criticism
• Shroud of Turin - Analysis of artistic style
• Shroud of Turin - Analysis of optical perspective
• Shroud of Turin - The Shroud in the Catholic Church
• Shroud of Turin - Conclusions

Read more here: » Shroud of Turin: Encyclopedia - Shroud of Turin

There are many relics attributed to Jesus that people believe or believed to be authentic relics of the Gospel accounts. The Shroud of Turin is perhaps the most well-known relic; its authenticity was questioned due to radiocarbon dating, performed in 1988, the accuracy of which has itself been subsequently questioned. The earlier-measured sample was generally agreed to have been thrown off by contamination on the shroud, though retests are also debated, and it remains a controversial item. Other alleged relics include:

Read more here: » Relics attributed to Jesus: Encyclopedia - Relics attributed to Jesus

Archaeological science (also known as Archaeometry) is the application of scientific techniques and methodologies to archaeology. Archaeological science can be divided into the following areas: Physical and chemical dating methods which provide archaeology with absolute and relative chronologies. Artefact studies incorporating (i) provenance, (ii) technology, and (iii) use. Environmental approaches which provide information on past landscapes, climates, flora, and fauna as well as diet, nut ...

Read more here: » Archaeological science: Encyclopedia - Archaeological science

Unetice, or more properly Únětice, culture, (German: Aunjetitz) is the name given to an early Bronze Age culture, preceded by the Beaker culture and followed by the Tumulus culture. The eponymous site is located west of Prague. It is focused around the Czech Republic, southern and central Germany, and western Poland. It grew out of beaker roots. It is dated from 2300-1600 BC (Bronze A1 and A ...

Read more here: » Unetice culture: Encyclopedia - Unetice culture

Ban Chiang (Thai บ้านเชียง) is an archeological site located in the Udon Thani province, Thailand, at 17°32′55″N, 103°21′30″E. It is listed in the UNESCO world heritage list since 1992. Discovered in 1957 it attracted enormous publicity due to attractive red painted pottery. The first scientific excavation was made in 1967 and uncovered several skeletons together with bronze grave gifts. Rice fragments have also been foun ...

Read more here: » Ban Chiang: Encyclopedia - Ban Chiang

Aetokremnos is a rock shelter near Limassol on the southern coast of Cyprus. It is situated on a steep cliff site ca. 40m above the Mediterranean. The name means "Cliff of the vultures" in Greek. Ca. 40m² have been excavated. Of the four layers found, No. 3 is sterile. The site contains both bones of the late Holocene dwarf fauna, pygmy elephants (Elephas cypriotes) and hippopotamus (Phanourios minutis) and artifacts (ca. 1.000 flints including thumbnail scrapers of mesolithic type). There are no bones with marks of but ...

Including:

• Aetokremnos - Sources

Read more here: » Aetokremnos: Encyclopedia - Aetokremnos

The raw BP date cannot be used directly as a calendar date, because the level of atmospheric 14C has not been strictly constant during the span of time that can be radiocarbon dated. The level is affected by variations in the cosmic ray intensity which is affected by variations caused by solar storms. In addition there are substantial reservoirs of carbon in organic matter, the ocean, ocean sediments (see methane hydrate), and sedimentary rocks. Changing climate can sometimes disrupt the carbon flow between these reservoirs and th ...

See also:

Radiocarbon dating, Radiocarbon dating - Basic chemistry, Radiocarbon dating - Measurements and scales, Radiocarbon dating - Calibration, Radiocarbon dating - Libby vs Cambridge half-life, Radiocarbon dating - Examples of carbon dating and historical disputes, Radiocarbon dating - Note

Read more here: » Radiocarbon dating: Encyclopedia II - Radiocarbon dating - Calibration

Absolute dating - Radiocarbon dating. One of the most widely used and well-known absolute dating techniques is carbon–14 (or radiocarbon) dating, which used to date organic remains. This is a radiometric technique since it measures radioactive decay. Carbon–14 is an unstable isotope of normal carbon, carbon–12. Cosmic radiation entering the earth’s atmosphere produces carbon–14, and plants take in carbon–14 as they absorb carbon dioxide. Carbon–14 moves up the food chain as animals eat plants and as ...

See also:

Absolute dating, Absolute dating - Methods of absolute dating, Absolute dating - Radiocarbon dating, Absolute dating - Potassium-argon dating

Read more here: » Absolute dating: Encyclopedia II - Absolute dating - Methods of absolute dating

The Carbon-14 dating, which was intended to settle the issue conclusively, and did so for many scientists, has not quelled speculation about the possible authenticity of the shroud. Some scientists call for more radiocarbon tests of areas of the cloth containing the image, which the Holy See to date has refused. Given their expressed concerns about the destructive nature of current testing methods, it is unlikely that this resistance will change in the near future. Skeptics hold that the Vatican s ...

See also:

Shroud of Turin, Shroud of Turin - General observations, Shroud of Turin - History, Shroud of Turin - Possible history before the 14th century: The Image of Edessa, Shroud of Turin - 14th century, Shroud of Turin - 15th century, Shroud of Turin - 16th century to present, Shroud of Turin - The controversy, Shroud of Turin - Theories of image formation, Shroud of Turin - Second Image on back of cloth, Shroud of Turin - Analyses of the Shroud, Shroud of Turin - Textual criticism, Shroud of Turin - Analysis of artistic style, Shroud of Turin - Analysis of optical perspective, Shroud of Turin - The Shroud in the Catholic Church, Shroud of Turin - Conclusions

Read more here: » Shroud of Turin: Encyclopedia II - Shroud of Turin - Conclusions

By measuring the amount of radiocative decay of a radioactive isotope with a known half-life, geologists can establish the absolute age of the parent material. A number of radioactive isotopes are used for this purpose, and depending on the rate of decay, are used for dating different geological periods. Radiocarbon dating. This technique measures the decay of Carbon-14 in organic material (e.g. plant macrofossils), and can be applied to samples younger than about 50,000 years. Uranium-lead dating. This technique ...

See also:

Geochronology, Geochronology - Dating methods, Geochronology - Radiometric dating, Geochronology - Incremental dating

Read more here: » Geochronology: Encyclopedia II - Geochronology - Radiometric dating

All ordinary matter is made up of combinations of chemical elements, each with its own atomic number, indicating the number of protons in the atomic nucleus. Additionally, elements may exist in different isotopes, with each isotope of an element differing only in the number of neutrons in the nucleus. A particular isotope of a particular element is called a nuclide. Some nuclides are inherently unstable. That is, at some random point in time, an atom of such a nuclide will be transformed into a different nuclide by the process known as radioactive decay. This transformation is accomplished by the emission ...

See also:

Radiometric dating, Radiometric dating - Types of radiometric dating, Radiometric dating - Fundamentals of radiometric dating, Radiometric dating - Limitation of techniques, Radiometric dating - Modern dating techniques, Radiometric dating - Short-range dating techniques, Radiometric dating - Dating with shortlived extinct radionuclides, Radiometric dating - Notes

Read more here: » Radiometric dating: Encyclopedia II - Radiometric dating - Fundamentals of radiometric dating

Vinland map - Dating of parchment. There have been a number of claims that the map is a forgery, and examinations by a number of institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution, have returned conflicting results. Radiocarbon dating, performed by physicist Douglass Donahue and chemists Jacqueline Olin and Garman Harbottle, place the origin of the parchment somewhere between 1423 and 1445, although the entire map appears to have been coated with an unknown substance sometime in the 1950s. This could have been p ...

See also:

Vinland map, Vinland map - Authenticity, Vinland map - Dating of parchment, Vinland map - Dating of ink, Vinland map - Content of map, Vinland map - Other evidence for Vinland

Read more here: » Vinland map: Encyclopedia II - Vinland map - Authenticity

The origin of the relic is hotly disputed. Those who believe it to have been used in Christ's burial have coined the term sindonology to describe its study (from Greek σινδων—sindon, the word used in the Gospel of Mark to describe the cloth that Joseph of Arimathea bought to use as Jesus' burial cloth). The term is generally not used by skeptics of the mystical origins of the relic. It may be impossible to ever fully resolve the controversy over the cloth because some believers are willing to accept supernatural explana ...

See also:

Shroud of Turin, Shroud of Turin - General observations, Shroud of Turin - History, Shroud of Turin - Possible history before the 14th century: The Image of Edessa, Shroud of Turin - 14th century, Shroud of Turin - 15th century, Shroud of Turin - 16th century to present, Shroud of Turin - The controversy, Shroud of Turin - Theories of image formation, Shroud of Turin - Second Image on back of cloth, Shroud of Turin - Analyses of the Shroud, Shroud of Turin - Textual criticism, Shroud of Turin - Analysis of artistic style, Shroud of Turin - Analysis of optical perspective, Shroud of Turin - The Shroud in the Catholic Church, Shroud of Turin - Conclusions

Read more here: » Shroud of Turin: Encyclopedia II - Shroud of Turin - The controversy

Dover has been an important port for millennia. In 1992, a waterlogged boat was discovered in a depth of 6 m that dates to the Bronze Age and is one of the oldest seagoing vessels ever recovered. It has been dated by the radiocarbon method to ca. 1550 BC. The Langdon Bay hoard, discovered in 1974 off the Dover coast contains bronze axes of a French type and may represent the cargo of a sunken vessel, thus demonstrating cross-channel trade already for the Bronze Age, if not earlier. Both finds are on display in t ...

See also:

Dover, Dover - History, Dover - Sport, Dover - Places of interest, Dover - Publications

Read more here: » Dover: Encyclopedia II - Dover - History

The island was the site of one of the earliest Christian churches in Scotland, founded in the 9th century and built into an unusual mass-burial mound that probably dates from prehistoric times. Although radiocarbon dating of bones reveal them to date from the 7th century to the 10th century, remains of Bronze Age funeral urns suggest that the mound may be older. The current chapel on the site is dedicated to Saint Adrian of May, who was killed o ...

See also:

Isle of May, Isle of May - History, Isle of May - Lighthouses

Read more here: » Isle of May: Encyclopedia II - Isle of May - History