I have done extensive research in this field and am very glad to be able to say that whoever wrote this new what they were talking about and did an excellent job. However, one piece of additional information that may be helpful to the average user. You CAN NOT use carbon dating past about 12,000 years give or take a grand. Because the carbon will be gone, due to its relatively minute amount to begin with.
ummmmm… sorry just read what I wrote the actual limit is about 4 times that … my bad
Since the article to which you refer is a mailbag answer, not a Straight Dope column, this thread is leaving the «Comments on Cecil’s Columns» forum and going to visit my colleague CKDextHavn in the «Comments on Mailbag Answers» forum.
moderator, «Comments on Cecil’s Columns»