2009/01/01 by E M Scott, E. M. Scott, Paula Reimer +1
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Social Sciences · #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s0033822200033816
There are 2 fundamental assumptions in radiocarbon dating, which were known early in the method development to be approximations, and which lead directly to the need to calibrate 14 C dates: 1. The rate of formation of 14 C in the upper atmosphere has been constant over the entire applied 14 C dating timescale (approximately the last 65,000 yr). 2. The 14 C activity of the atmosphere has been in equilibrium with the biosphere and ocean over the applied timescale.