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I finally dated my first artifact, but I almost ruined it with bare hands
I was so excited to try carbon dating on a bone I found. In my rush, I forgot to wear gloves when I picked it up. This can add modern carbon and mess up the age. The first test came back all wrong, and I felt awful. I had to re-clean the sample and run it again. It took extra time, but the second try gave a good result. Now I'll never skip gloves again, and it feels like a lesson learned.
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cameron_hayes997mo ago
500 years of age just gone because you were in a hurry, classic. Reminds me of @harris.abby and the fingerprint fiasco, where rushing made more work. Sometimes going slow is actually the fast way to do it right.
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harris.abby7mo ago
Man, that rush to get things done can really backfire. I once helped a friend move an old family photo album and didn't wash my hands first. Left fingerprints all over the black pages, and they were a pain to clean off. Learned real quick to always check for grime before touching stuff like that. Now I'm paranoid about gloves too, lol.
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jessica1307mo ago
Gloves are a lifesaver. That part about fingerprints on black pages really hit home. I get so nervous touching old stuff now. My mom's yearbooks are all smudged because no one was careful. I just grab gloves before even thinking about it. Can't take any chances.
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