Which of these dating methods is capable of giving the most accurate age of an artifact?
DNA
tree rings
radiocarbon
dendrochronology
1 answer
The most accurate dating method among the options given is dendrochronology, which is the study of tree rings. By analyzing the patterns of tree rings, scientists can determine the exact calendar year in which the tree lived and hence provide a highly accurate age for an artifact made of wood. Radiocarbon dating is also a reliable method for determining the age of organic materials, but it is not as precise as dendrochronology when it comes to providing specific calendar dates. DNA dating is not commonly used for dating artifacts and is more useful for understanding genetic relationships and evolutionary timelines.