A model describing the production, distribution, and decay of 14>sC led to a proposal that the 14>sC content of an organic sample could be used as an index of age. Willard F. Libby conducted the critical experiments which established the basic validity of the method during 1947-9. Since that time all of the 6 basic physical assumptions of the method have been the subject of continuing scrutiny. Archaeologists who rely on 14>sC values to construct their chron-ologies are especially concerned with errors that may be introduced as a result of violations of lte 1 of the fundamental assumptions. Error reduction strategies are best implemented by close interdisciplinary collaboration and cooperation between radiocarbon specialists and those engaged in archaeological research studies. See also AATA 16-1172.