Radiometric dating works on the assumption that there is some natural level of radioactive material and material that it will decay to in nature. For example, with Radiocarbon dating, this is carbon 14 and Nitrogen 14. The level of carbon 14 in the environment is stable with the two exceptions of [[bomb carbon]] and burning of ancient fuels (increasing the amount of carbon 12 in the environment). Both of these can be removed by using wood from 1890 - prior to the widespread use of fossil fuels and well before the creation of the nuclear bomb. | Radiometric dating works on the assumption that there is some natural level of radioactive material and material that it will decay to in nature. For example, with Radiocarbon dating, this is carbon 14 and Nitrogen 14. The level of carbon 14 in the environment is stable with the two exceptions of [[bomb carbon]] and burning of ancient fuels (increasing the amount of carbon 12 in the environment). Both of these can be removed by using wood from 1890 - prior to the widespread use of fossil fuels and well before the creation of the nuclear bomb. |