Radiocarbon Dating

Between ~1000–1200 cal BC (or ~3000–3200 cal BP), the atmospheric ¹⁴C concentration was relatively stable, producing a 'plateau' in the calibration curve. A radiocarbon measurement in this age range could correspond to multiple calendar ages. Bayesian modeling combining radiocarbon with other stratigraphic information helps resolve ambiguity.

Marine organisms incorporate ¹⁴C from deep ocean water, which is depleted in ¹⁴C compared to the atmosphere due to long residence times. Shells and bone from marine animals are typically 400–500 years 'older' than their actual age. Lake samples can also show reservoir effects if the lake basin contains old carbon sources. Freshwater samples may also show hard-water effects from dissolved limestone.

Measurement precision (1-sigma standard error) is typically ±30–50 years for well-preserved samples. However, calibration uncertainty and potential contamination can increase effective uncertainty to ±100–200 years, particularly for younger samples where relative uncertainty is larger.

No. Radiocarbon measures only the ¹⁴C/¹²C ratio and elapsed time since ¹⁴C uptake. If two samples have identical ¹⁴C content, radiocarbon cannot distinguish them. Other isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁸O) or independent dating methods (paleomagnetic, stratigraphic) must be used for differentiation.