How do archaeologists date ancient artefacts?

For organic objects like wood, bone, or cloth, radiocarbon dating measures the decay of carbon-14, a method developed in the late 1940s by Willard Libby. For older or non-organic materials, archaeologists may use stratigraphy, thermoluminescence, dendrochronology, or association with known historical layers. Radiocarbon dating is useful up to around 50,000 years, though accuracy depends on sample condition and calibration curves. In practice, archaeologists often combine multiple methods to narrow down an age range. This helps build timelines for human migration, trade, and the rise of ancient civilizations.