The art of time travel: exploring radiocarbon dating in cultural heritage

Abstract

In the world of cultural heritage, time is everything. Whether a curator is authenticating a medieval manuscript or a conservator is tracing the history of an ancient wooden panel, knowing when something was made is often just as important as knowing what it is. Radiocarbon dating – often termed ¹⁴C dating – has long been a trusted tool for establishing timelines in archaeology, but its role in the arts is less widely understood. How can a technique that measures the age of prehistoric bones or ancient campfires help verify a canvas thought to be from the Renaissance? The answer lies in the organic and inorganic materials containing carbon and embedded in art objects – canvas, wood, stucco, parchment and even lacquer – all of which may hold radiocarbon clues.