But early radiocarbon dates came with their own complications.

Contamination of ancient samples with more recent carbon — from the surrounding sediment, from handling, from chemical treatment — can make ancient material appear younger than it actually is.

Techniques for avoiding and correcting for contamination have improved dramatically over the decades since radiocarbon dating was developed, meaning that older dates on ancient specimens are sometimes less reliable than more recent ones using improved methods.

For Zlatý kůň, the radiocarbon picture was ambiguous for many years.