Relative dating puts the sequences of rocks layers into chronological order. Although the layers are no longer horizontal, geologists are able to determine their order.

What does relative dating of rocks tell you about the rock layer?

This is called relative dating. Relative dating tells scientists if a rock layer is older or younger than another. This would also mean that fossils found in the deepest layer of rocks in an area would represent the oldest forms of life in that particular rock formation.

How can you tell which rock layer is the oldest?

The law of superposition states that rock strata (layers) farthest from the ground surface are the oldest (formed first) and rock strata (layers) closest to the ground surface are the youngest (formed most recently). A fossil is the remains or traces of plants and animals that lived long ago.