Relative dating includes methods that rely on the analysis of comparative data or the context (eg, geological, regional, cultural) in which the object one wishes to date is found. This approach helps to order events chronologically but it does not provide the absolute age of an object expressed in years.

What is relative dating in archaeology?

With relative dating, dates are expressed in relation to one another, for instance, earlier, later, more recent, and so forth. Each object at an archeological site has a different time relationship with every other object at that site.

What is the difference between relative dating and absolute dating in archaeology?

What is the difference between relative and absolute age? Relative age is the age of a rock layer (or the fossils it contains) compared to other layers. Absolute age is the numeric age of a layer of rocks or fossils. Absolute age can be determined by using radiometric dating.