IM actually with you on this. Carbon dating relies on C14 being at constant levels in the atmosphere and consequently in organic matter accumulated during life processes. Unfortunately it's doubtful C14 is a constant level at all times in earths history. The level of C14 in the atmosphere can be changed by meteorite strikes, volcanic activity and other types of phenomenon. So there is no real way to say if the levels of C14 present today was the same as present 5000 years ago or 5 million years ago. It is just assumed that the levels are the same.
Yeah , but the science is settled
Couldn't one check ice cores from Antarctica or Greenland?
See if the C14 seems constant between layers or if it's jumping around all over the place every few inches in the core sample?
That's what they attempt to do. But we only have ice cores that go back so far. No one knows if that is actually a real historical record either. Ice ages and warming periods can wipe the record effectively and it also assumes that the c14 levels at the poles accurately reflect the c14 levels at all localities at all times.
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