Researchers unlock secrets of the past with new carbon dating standard

Radiocarbon dating is set to become more accurate than ever after an international team of scientists improved the technique for assessing the age of historical objects. The team of researchers at the Universities of Belfast, Sheffield, Bristol, Glasgow, Oxford, St Andrews and Historic England, plus international colleagues, used measurements from almost 15,000 samples from objects dating back as far as 60,000 years ago, as part of a seven-year project. They used the measurements to create new international radiocarbon calibration (IntCal) curves, which are fundamental across the scientific spectrum for accurately dating artefacts and making predictions about the future. Professor E Marian Scott, from University of Glasgow's School of Mathematics and Statistics, said: "Newer technology is changing how radiocarbon measurements are made, meaning that smaller and smaller samples can be dated. This multi-disciplinary team effort brought together many new measurements on single year tree rings with improved measurement precision, better scientific understanding of the global carbon cycle and new statistical methodology which taken together means that the curves now extend beyond 55,000 years and incorporate experimental, reservoir and measurement uncertainties. New Bayesian statistical models are fundamental to the updated and improved calibration curves that will enhance our understanding of the past." Professor Paula Reimer, from Queen's University Belfast and head of the IntCal project, said: "Radiocarbon dating has revolutionised the field of archaeology and environmental science.