The measurement of a radiocarbon date is complex and ORAU is involved in all stages of the process from advice given prior to submission of samples right through to help with statistical interpretation and publication.
Radiocarbon dating is one of the most widely used scientific dating methods in archaeology and environmental science. It can be applied to most organic materials and spans dates from a few hundred years ago right back to about 50,000 years ago.
Once the sample has been processed to either carbon dioxide or elemental carbon (in the form of graphite). The proportion of radiocarbon atoms in the sample is determined by AMS.
