dating methods

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dating methods The methods used to determine the relative or absolute age of rocks, fossils, or remains of archaeological interest. A relative time scale, constructed in the last century, is based on correlations between palaeontological and stratigraphic data. The rate at which sediments accumulate can also be used for dating (see varve). Absolute dating relies on the decay of radioactive isotopes of elements present in the material to be dated (see decay constant; decay curve; decay series; isotopic dating; radiocarbon dating; and radiometric dating).

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