Archaeologists today have a wide selection of ways to correctly date ancient artifacts. The available methods allow them to accurately date objects that are hundreds of years old up to a few million years old. Dating methods are used to find out about how old an artifact may be, or how old it is exactly. Relative dating methods are stratigraphy and style analysis. Absolute dating methods used are absolute dating, radiocarbon dating, uranium-lead dating, and luminescence dating.
Stratigraphy as a dating method, is based around the principle that older artifacts are usually found below younger artifacts. When archaeological sites are excavated, the layers of ground near the settlements reveal activity and settlements. Stratigraphic excavation is the study and recording of different strata as they are removed from the area. Index fossils are a large help to the stratigraphy dating method. An organism such as venericardia planicosta existed only during the Eocene time period, so everytime we find one, we can assume that the rocks containing the fossil and similar artifacts must have belonged to the Eocene era.
Style analysis as a dating technique is based upon the fact that the shape and style of an artifact changes through time, although its function may remain the same. The change in style of pottery, glass, stoneware, and metal objects …show more content…
In most situations absolute dating can tell about an object’s calendar year. Since 1950, absolute dating has helped scientists accurately date objects, therefore they were able to learn more about the objects. Absolute dating is also highly depended upon in laboratory settings. Many absolute dating techniques have been discovered all because of the nuclear research that occurred during World War II. The method of absolute dating is very reliable, a wide variety of isotopes can be used, and most materials can be dated. The accuracy level is usually 99%, very rarely is it
Stratigraphy as a dating method, is based around the principle that older artifacts are usually found below younger artifacts. When archaeological sites are excavated, the layers of ground near the settlements reveal activity and settlements. Stratigraphic excavation is the study and recording of different strata as they are removed from the area. Index fossils are a large help to the stratigraphy dating method. An organism such as venericardia planicosta existed only during the Eocene time period, so everytime we find one, we can assume that the rocks containing the fossil and similar artifacts must have belonged to the Eocene era.
Style analysis as a dating technique is based upon the fact that the shape and style of an artifact changes through time, although its function may remain the same. The change in style of pottery, glass, stoneware, and metal objects …show more content…
In most situations absolute dating can tell about an object’s calendar year. Since 1950, absolute dating has helped scientists accurately date objects, therefore they were able to learn more about the objects. Absolute dating is also highly depended upon in laboratory settings. Many absolute dating techniques have been discovered all because of the nuclear research that occurred during World War II. The method of absolute dating is very reliable, a wide variety of isotopes can be used, and most materials can be dated. The accuracy level is usually 99%, very rarely is it