carbon datingn.
/ˈkɑːbən ˌdeɪtɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈkɑrbən ˌdeɪdɪŋ/ A method of isotopic dating applicable to dead organic matter, in which the proportion of carbon-14 to carbon-12 is measured and compared with the known natural abundance of the isotopes; an instance of using this method; a date or age obtained by it. Also called radiocarbon dating.Age is calculated on the basis that carbon-14 in the sample decays at a constant rate and is not replaced after the death of the organism from which the material is derived. See also note at carbon date n.
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the world > time > reckoning of time > chronology > [noun] > assignment to a time or dating > dating methods
fluorine test1895
cross-dating1939
age dating1941
carbon–14 dating1950
radiocarbon dating1950
carbon dating1952
radiodating1962
radiometric dating1963
TL-dating1972
1951 Nashua (New Hampsh.) Tel. 22 Aug. 6/1 Such finds..can be examined for a radioactive carbon dating, and the age placed within a year or two.]
1952 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 96 454/1 The fact that fundamental vocabulary changes at a constant rate was discovered accidentally, but carbon dating was the specific stimulus for the research which brought it forth.
1966 BioScience 16 450/1 Work by Susan Bulmer gives evidence (confirmed by carbon datings) that man lived and hunted in the Central Highlands at least eleven thousand years ago.
1983 Listener 21 July 21/1 I had nailed the documentary as accurately as any archaeologist with his carbon dating.
2001 Treasure Hunting Feb. 17/3 Using carbon dating it was confirmed the 10cm-long shaved piece of deer antler or bone was from the years 25,360 BC–26,000 BC.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1952