C - 14 can only date things a far back as 56,000 yrs and only organic samples.. (religion.blogs.cnn.com)
A NABO survey of 90 sites has found, however, that most organic samples «had pretty much turned to mush» as the permafrost thawed, Smiarowski says. (sciencemag.org)
Charcoal samples and other organic samples were cleaned of rootlets and other extraneous plant materials before processing for radiocarbon dating at the Centre d'études nordiques 14C Laboratory (Université Laval, Québec City, PQ, Canada; UL), IsoTrace Laboratory (University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; TO) and Beta Analytic, Incorporated (Miami, FL, USA; BETA). (rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org)