Radiocarbon dating laboratory

The radiocarbon dating method relies on two mainstays. On the one hand, radioactive disintegration happens at a continuous speed, meaning that for a specific amount of radioactive carbon (carbon 14), half will disappear after 5730 years. Therefore, the other half still remains after 5730 years. After 11460 years, only a quarter remains, and so forth. On the other hand, the atmosphere fixes carbon during photosynthesis, similar to the carbon cycle.

In other words, the radiocarbon dating method measures how much of radiocarbon is still present. The amount is then compared to the initial quantity of carbon 14, and, thanks to the half-life, the age of the object is calculated.