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Carbon dating, or carbon-14 dating, is a method for comparing the ages of organic materials such as bones or things made from anything that once lived.   

'''Carbon dating''', or carbon-14 dating, is a method for comparing the ages of organic materials such as bones or things made from anything that once lived.   

The technique is based on comparing the levels of <SUP>14</SUP>C and <SUP>12</SUP>C isotopes in the sample.  When the sample was living, the ratio of <SUP>14</SUP>C to <SUP>12</SUP>C in the material is the same as in the atmosphere.  But after death the <SUP>14</SUP>C isotope decays into N-14, while <SUP>12</SUP>C does not.  The loss in <SUP>14</SUP>C is then used to estimate how long ago the sample died, which is typically the same as how long the sample existed.

The technique is based on comparing the levels of <SUP>14</SUP>C and <SUP>12</SUP>C isotopes in the sample.  When the sample was living, the ratio of <SUP>14</SUP>C to <SUP>12</SUP>C in the material is the same as in the atmosphere.  But after death the <SUP>14</SUP>C isotope decays into N-14, while <SUP>12</SUP>C does not.  The loss in <SUP>14</SUP>C is then used to estimate how long ago the sample died, which is typically the same as how long the sample existed.