Dating Techniques

Stratigraphy is the study of layers of rocks or the objects embedded within those layers. It is based on the assumption (which nearly always holds true) that deeper layers were deposited earlier, and thus are older, than more shallow layers. The sequential layers of rock represent sequential intervals of time. Although these units may be sequential, they are not necessarily continuous due to erosional removal of some intervening units. The smallest of these rock units that can be matched to a specific time interval is called a bed. Beds that are related are grouped together into members, and members are grouped into formations. Stratigraphy is the principle method of relative dating, and in the early years of dating studies was virtually the only method available to scientists.