Services
03. Documents
Carbon Dating
Radiocarbon dating is a scientific technique utilized to determine the age of organic materials such as wood, bone, ivory, horn, antler, leather, and natural textiles. However, it is not applicable to metal, stone, or synthetic substances.
In the realm of literature, the most commonly carbon-dated materials include wood panels, canvas, or linen.
Unlike other dating methods, carbon dating does not yield a precise date; instead, it provides a probability range indicating when the material likely originated. For instance, a typical result might suggest a 65 percent probability that the material dates from a specific time window, such as 1860 to 1920.
Given its probabilistic nature, carbon dating is particularly valuable for dating older items, potentially spanning hundreds or even thousands of years for documents.
To conduct carbon dating, only a small sample of the material in question is required.
Scientific Tests
When it comes to ancient documentation, scientific testing can serve as a valuable tool for providing evidence. However, it's crucial to understand that even if the materials and the historical context align chronologically, it does not guarantee that a specific individual produced that particular document.
This holds especially true for documents predating 1900, as numerous scribes and authors were active simultaneously within the same regions or countries. Thus, while scientific tests can ascertain whether the document falls within the correct historical period, they typically do not reveal the identity of the specific creator.
75 Years of Accumulated Practice
Request a Consultation
To get an appraisal on an item or to get an item certified as authentic, a consultation with our staff is required. We except virtual or in-person appointments. This is a crucial part of our process because there are certain items that we cannot accept, and certain items are discernable pre-inspection.