This tool estimates the age of organic materials by analyzing the remaining amount of a radioactive isotope of carbon. For example, a piece of wood from an ancient structure can be analyzed to determine when the tree was felled. This process relies on the known decay rate of carbon-14 and requires inputting the measured amount of the isotope remaining in the sample.
Archaeologists, paleontologists, and other researchers utilize this technique to establish chronologies of past events and understand the timing of key developments in human history and the natural world. By providing a relatively precise timeframe for organic artifacts, this method revolutionized the study of the past, enabling a more accurate understanding of the development of civilizations, ecosystems, and the planet itself. Prior to its development, dating historical artifacts often relied on less precise methods, such as stylistic analysis or stratigraphic layering.