Write notes on Chronometric dating in about 150 words each (10 Marks) Anthropology Optional Paper CSE 2024
Write notes on Chronometric dating in about 150 words each (10 Marks) Anthropology Optional Paper CSE 2024
Introduction
Chronometric dating, also known as absolute dating, refers to methods used to determine the specific age of an archaeological or fossil specimen in years. These methods are based on measurable physical or chemical changes over time, providing a more precise age than relative dating techniques.
Main Body
Chronometric dating methods include radiocarbon dating (C-14), which is widely used to date organic materials up to 50,000 years old. It works by measuring the decay of carbon-14 isotopes in once-living organisms. Another common technique is potassium-argon dating (K-Ar), often used to date volcanic rocks and hominid fossils in early human sites. Thermoluminescence (TL) and uranium-series dating are also employed, with TL dating being useful for materials such as ceramics or burnt stones, and uranium-series dating applied to cave deposits like stalactites. Each method provides a reliable timeline of human evolution and cultural developments.
Conclusion
Chronometric dating revolutionized archaeology and anthropology by allowing researchers to accurately determine the age of ancient objects and fossils. It provides a scientific basis for constructing chronological frameworks and understanding the temporal aspects of human evolution and cultural change.
