Radiocarbon Dating (Carbon-14) Archaeological Age Calculator
Calculate the chronological age of archaeological and organic specimens in Years Before Present (BP) from residual Carbon-14 activity using first-order nuclear decay kinetics.
Estimated Specimen Age (Years BP)
Calculator Inputs
Estimated Specimen Age (Years BP)
Half-Lives Elapsed
Approximate Calendar Year
Highly Reliable Dating Window: The sample age falls securely within the validated 50,000-year radiometric limit for Carbon-14.
Carbon-14 Radioactive Decay Profile
Standard nuclear chemistry and geochronology tool for organic sample dating up to ~50,000 years.
Calculation Methodology
Carbon-14 decays via first-order kinetics with a half-life of 5730 years. Decay Constant: λ = ln(2) / 5730 ≈ 0.00012097 yr^-1. Specimen Age: t = - (1 / λ) * ln(Percent C14 Remaining / 100). Half-Lives Elapsed = t / 5730.
Frequently Asked Questions
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