This is a method that does not find the age in years but is an effective technique to compare the ages of two or more artifacts, rocks or even sites.
The relative dating techniques are very effective when it comes to radioactive isotope or radiocarbon dating.
However, not all fossils or remains contain such elements.
Relative techniques are of great help in such types of sediments.➤ It determines if an object/event is younger or older than another object/event from history.➤ Relative dating is qualitative.➤ This technique helps determine the relative age of the remains.➤ It is less specific than absolute dating.➤ Relative dating is comparatively less expensive and time-efficient.➤ It works best for sedimentary rocks having layered arrangement of sediments.
The following are the major methods of relative dating.
It is clear then that absolute dating is based upon physical and chemical properties of artifacts that provide a clue regarding the true age.
This is possible because properties of rock formations are closely associated with the age of the artifacts found trapped within them.
To find their age, two major geological dating methods are used.
These are called relative and absolute dating techniques.
The most popular method of radio dating is radio carbon dating which is possible because of the presence of C-14, an unstable isotope of carbon.
C-14 has a half life of 5730 years which means that only half of the original amount is left in the fossil after 5730 years while half of the remaining amount is left after another 5730 years.
However, archeologists still require further information to find out the items that are oldest and those that are youngest in the order.