Just a quick FYI, "oriental" is often seen as a pejorative term in modern society.
The oldest permanent settlements were probably between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the Middle East, though some believe the real candidates are deeper in Africa, or the Indus River Valley. From there, humans moved outward into Asia and Europe, and eventually, the the Pacific Islands, Australia, and the Americas.
It's not an exact science, but yes, carbon dating is involved. Additional methods are used to complement the carbon dating, such as checking where artifacts are in strata and marking the spread of artistic and scientific trends across the globe.
