Dating: The Radiocarbon Way

Synopsis

What is carbon 14? What is a radiocarbon date? Is it the same as a calendar date? What does radiocarbon dating measure and why does it take a long time? How does an accelerator mass spectrometer measure carbon isotopes? What can you date with radiocarbon? This film features Dr. Christine Prior of GNS Science’s Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory in New Zealand, explaining how accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating is done at their lab. Dr. Prior explains the principles of radiometric dating and follows a sample through the process.. (10 minutes)

Language

English

Country

New Zealand

Year of release

2010

Year of production

2010

Subjects

Archaeology; Chemistry; Physics

Keywords

archaeological investigation; mass spectrometry; radiocarbon dating

Online availability

URI

http://www.archaeologychannel.org/

Price

fr4ee

Delivery

Streamed

Credits

Contributor

Christine Prior

Production Company

Name

GNS Science

Distributor

Name

Archaeology Channel, The

Contact

Richard Pettigrew (president and director)

Web

http://www.archaeologychannel.org External site opens in new window

Notes

The Archaeology Channel is one of the initiatives of the US-based Archaeological Legacy Institute. The marketplace section of the Channel’s website sells a range of DVDs on archaeological topics. The site also streams documentaries in their entirety, free of charge. American archaeology is strongly represented but the extensive collection also covers worldwide content. Audio commentaries and interviews with archaeologists are also available free online .