What is the primary research method archaeologists use to date ancient organic materials?

The primary research method archaeologists use to date ancient organic materials is carbon dating. This technique relies on measuring the amount of carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, that remains in organic materials after an organism has died. Because carbon-14 is continually produced in the atmosphere and absorbed by living organisms, the ratio of carbon-14 to carbon-12 changes over time once an organism dies. By calculating the remaining carbon-14, scientists can approximate the age of the organic material, which can be crucial for understanding historical timelines and contextualizing archaeological findings.

The other methods mentioned, such as ground-penetrating radar and magnetometry, are valuable in archaeological investigations but serve different purposes. Ground-penetrating radar is used for subsurface imaging and locating structures or burial sites, while magnetometry detects variations in the Earth's magnetic field caused by archaeological features. Stratigraphic excavation involves studying soil layers to understand the sequence of human activity but does not directly date materials. Therefore, carbon dating remains the go-to method for determining the age of ancient organic materials, making it the most effective and widely utilized approach in archaeology.