Willard F. Libby discovered radiocarbon dating and brought about the 1st Radiocarbon Revolution. There were some errors though, because fluctuations occur. So using other methods (such as dendrochronology) a calibrated curve was devised to fix the dates (2nd Radiocarbon Revolution).

Radiocarbon dating is used on organic materials. It is the most common form of dating used in archaeology.

Works back 50,000 years (ca.)

*definations from Archeology: Theories, Methods, and Practice by Colin Refrew and Paul Bahn. © 2000