(October 20, 2015 at 1:12 am)Minimalist Wrote: About 10 years ago c14 tests were conducted on an olive branch which was found buried in volcanic ash at the archaeological site of Akrotiri on the island of Santorini. The c14 dates were in the range of 1620 BC plus or minus 15 years. When compared to dendrochronology and ice cores a date of 1628 BC for the Santorini eruption was determined. Amusingly, because of the inherent plus/minus allowance, the C14 is the least precise of the three but close enough to suggest that Santorini blew it's top right around 1628 BC.
Blondie,
Min's response provides an excellent example to discuss all the 'errors' you invoked in your OP. We understand the potential inaccuracies in the test, which is why results are reported with a margin of error. In Min's example it is +/- 15 years. The problem with people that listen to scientifically illiterate preacher types droning on about errors and assumptions is that the assumptions and potential errors are well understood and accounted for.
The inaccuracy argument against radiometric dating is a canard perpetuated by ignorance.
