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Carbon dating measures the ratio of C14 to C12. This ratio doesn't start to change until they die, and are no longer renewing their carbon from the environment.
by dithering 9y ago
Carbon dating measures the ratio of C14 to C12. This ratio doesn't start to change until they die, and are no longer renewing their carbon from the environment. Radiocarbon dating does provide an accurate date (although less accurate than dendro) for wooden items, and works with a wider range of samples.
- marcosdumay 9y agoThat's for short lived organisms. Trees do not renew most of their carbon during their lifetime, cellular walls are created and very rarely destroyed.