Justice J.J. Munir … had asked the ASI to submit its opinion whether investigation of the structure found at the site, … if examined through the methods of carbon dating, ground penetrating radar (GPR), excavation and other methods to determine its age, nature and other relevant information, is likely to damage it or a safe evaluation about its age can be done.. – Ishita Mishra
The Archaeological Survey Of India (ASI) on November 21, 2022 told the Allahabad High Court that the agency needed three months’ time to prepare a report on what could be done to determine the age of the structure found inside the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi.
ASI counsel Manoj Kumar told The Hindu that the agency would consult expert bodies to find an exact and best way to determine the age of the structure.
“There are modern, scientific ways to determine the same. The court will take a call on our plea in the next hearing—November 30,” Mr. Kumar said.
While the ASI counsel denied that there was any mention of carbon dating during Monday’s hearing in court, Saurabh Tiwari, lawyer representing Hindu plaintiff Rakhi Singh, claimed that the ASI made oral observations that carbon dating of the ‘Shivling’ might damage the structure.
Reacting to Mr. Tiwari’s claim, Mr. Kumar said it was Mrs. Singh’s lawyer who told the court that carbon dating would damage the structure.
“The court had a view that whether carbon dating can be done on a stone or not. So one cannot do carbon dating of the stone. It is done only on structures that have carbon deposition on them,” said Mr. Kumar.
Another lawyer present in the court during the hearing confirmed to The Hindu that the ASI’s counsel said carbon dating on the structure would damage it.
“When the judge asked how can the ASI say the same without visiting the spot, the ASI’s lawyer sought time to compile a report,” he added.
‘Needed more time’
Counsel for Hindu worshippers Lakshmi Devi and others, Vishnu Shankar Jain, said the ASI needed more time to ascertain whether carbon dating could be conducted.
“The court expressed the view that no party wants the structure to be damaged,” he added.
The matter pertaining to “worship rights” inside the Varanasi-based Gyanvyapi Mosque is being heard by a bench of Justice J.J. Munir, which, in the previous hearing, had asked the ASI to submit its opinion whether investigation of the structure found at the site, “subject matter of original suit No.18 of 2022,” if examined through the methods of carbon dating, ground penetrating radar (GPR), excavation and other methods to determine its age, nature and other relevant information, is likely to damage it or a safe evaluation about its age can be done. – The Hindu, 22 November 2022
› Ishita Mishra is a special correspondent at The Hindu, New Delhi.
Can stone be carbon dated? – Singh Rahul Sunilkumar
Carbon dating is the measurement of the amount of C-14 radioactive leftover. After determining this, the scientist estimates the time that has passed since that thing died, although it comes with certain assumptions. … Carbon dating is just one form of radiometric dating. Radiometric dating determines the age of geologic materials by measuring a short-life radioactive element. – Singh Rahul Sunilkumar
What is carbon dating?
According to a research paper published in the scientific journal Nature, all living objects absorb carbon from the surrounding environment. This assimilated carbon also comprises a certain amount of natural, radioactive carbon-14 (C-14).
Not all but some isotopes have an unstable nucleus, which means this unstable isotope will change its number of protons, neutrons, or both. This variation over time is termed as radioactive decay.
The presently living organisms would constitute the same proportion of carbon-14 as what is present in the atmosphere. On the other hand, excessively ancient dead sources would have decayed all.
Thus, assuming this, the age of organic objects of intermediate ages could be predicted by measuring the extent of carbon-14 present in the sample and correlating this against the established half-life of carbon-14 of 5,730 years. This means that 5,730 years after a living creature dies, half of its carbon-14 atoms have decayed to nitrogen atoms.
The paper explains that when the plant or animal dies, the absorption of carbon stops. But as carbon-14 is radioactive carbon, the accumulated portion continues to decay. This creates a time-capsule with a steadily decreasing carbon-14 count.
Carbon dating is the measurement of the amount of this radioactive leftover. After determining this, the scientist estimates the time that has passed since that thing died, although it comes with certain assumptions.
Can rocks be carbon dated?
Geologists, however, don’t generally use carbon dating to establish the age of rocks as organic material presence is required. According to Dr. Christopher S. Baird, a physics professor at West Texas A&M University, in an article, carbon dating is used mostly to date trees, plants, and animal remains that are younger than about 50,000 years.
Then how do geologists find the age of rock?
Carbon dating is just one form of radiometric dating. Radiometric dating determines the age of geologic materials by measuring a short-life radioactive element. Of them, carbon-14 and potassium-14/argon-40 dating methods are most developed.
So if the rock under test lacks C-14 isotope, it can be dated based on other radioactive isotopes present in it. Also, readers should note, radiometric dating is one of the many techniques available for estimation of age of rocks. – Hindustan Times, 14 October 2022
› Singh Rahul Sunilkumar writes for the Hindustan Times.
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