Radiocarbon dating is one of the most important tools in an archeologist's tool kit! While the method doesn't actually fit in a bag, it does start in the field when an archeologist collects a sample, such as a bone or a piece of burned wood from an ancient cooking fire. After documenting where the artifact came from, they package it carefully and send it to a radiocarbon lab where the sample is cleaned and the radiocarbon content is measured. The lab calculates a date based on how much radiocarbon is left in the sample.

Radiocarbon dating can be complicated, but it is based on relatively simple ideas. Most radiocarbon (¹⁴C) is created in the atmosphere. It is incorporated into plants via photosynthesis and animals via the food they eat. Radiocarbon measurements can be made on organic (once living) materials that are younger than 55,000 years. Upon death of the organism, unstable ¹⁴C decays without replenishment. The radiocarbon age is a calculation based on the amount of ¹⁴C left in a sample and the radiocarbon half-life. The radiocarbon age requires adjustment using a calibration curve to become a meaningful date in our solar calendrical system.

Play the games below to get an introduction to how radiocarbon dating works! Want to learn more? Check out the Radiocarbon Dating Understood Special Exhibit.

Memory Game

Find matching pairs and learn about radiocarbon dating!

Radiocarbon in Sequence

Crossword