TIL carbon dating got a lot sharper since my first dig.

Back then, we'd get dates that spanned hundreds of years. Now they can pinpoint things within a lifetime.

4 comments

4 Comments

Sure, it's neat they can pin things down to a lifetime now. But for most digs, a range of a couple centuries was already fine. This just seems like extra detail for specialists, not a big deal.

jana_fox501mo ago

@patriciab87, lifetime dating clears up centuries of confusion fast.

charlie_ellis1mo ago

I read that new methods let them date things within a decade, is that accurate?

caleb_thomas851mo ago

Honestly, when patriciab87 says it's "extra detail for specialists, not a big deal," that's way off. Tbh, pinning stuff down to a decade can change how we see whole time periods, not just help experts. It's a big step for everyone, not just a niche thing.