How old is it? Radiocarbon precision

[CincinnatiKid]

Carbon dating is the primary method of dating relics/objects.
Measuring carbon, or lack of, can establish a reasonable timeline/date of life, publication or manufacture. Radiocarbon accelerators provide a +/-95% accuracy.
If true, the +/-95% ain't no big deal when dating something a few hundred years old, but when dating objects millennia old, seems the percentages would graduate significantly?

 

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[Limitool]

I believe your right CK. From what I "understand" carbon dating dates an item by the established rate of deteriorating carbon within of an item. So with that said the older an item is the closer this type of dating would come into play. But I'm not 100% sure of this statement. I'd think items just a few hundred years old would be more difficult to accurately date using this method.....?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

It will work with organic material (bones, wood, sinew, etc.) up to 60,000 years old +/-; but is poor with anything from or submerged in seawater. Does not work with rocks, minerals, ore, metals, etc. Supposedly it can be used in tracing the C-14 in air bubbles in ice and cement, however.

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Thanks.
Just seems as though in this age, there would be more precise measuring procedures.
Are there?
Peace ✌

 

[1320]

Thermoluminescence dating is gaining some traction.

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Interesting 1320.
I used "wiki" for basic explanation.
Will read more.
Thanks
Peace ✌