Scientists called geochronologists are experts in dating rocks and fossils, and can often date fossils younger than around 50,000 years old using radiocarbon dating. This method has been used to provide dates for all kinds of interesting material like cave rock art and fossilized poop.

How are ancient bones dated?

Scientists can then compare the ratio of normal carbon (carbon-12) to radioactive carbon-14 to determine an approximate age of the creature by testing and analyzing its ancient, fossilized bones. Carbon-14 is not the only radioactive isotope scientists can measure and use to date an artifact.

What is the oldest skeleton found in America?

the Arlington Springs Man When he died his bones lay in the earth for 13,000 years, and because they were discovered near Arlington Springs on Santa Rosa Island, he was named the Arlington Springs Man. His are the oldest human remains ever unearthed in the Americas.

What is the oldest DNA in America?

A Native American man in Montana has the oldest human DNA in the USA, according to news reports. The company Cellular Research Institute (CRI) Genetics, said it had traced the mitochondrial DNA of Darrell Dusty Crawford back 55 generations, with an unusually high 99 percent accuracy rate.