Question

Which of the following are the relative dating methods?
A. Fluorine
B. Dendrochronology
C. Stratigraphy
D. Palynology
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, C and D only
• B. A, B and C only
• C. A, B and D only
• D. B, C and D only

Hint:

Remember the core difference: If a method gives a specific year or a numerical age range (like 2500 BC or 50,000 BP), it's absolute. If it just says "this is older than that," it's relative. Stratigraphy is the most basic form of relative dating.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Dating methods in archaeology are divided into two main types: relative and absolute. Relative dating methods can only determine if one object is older or younger than another; they do not provide a specific age in years. Absolute (or chronometric) dating methods provide a specific chronological age or age range in years.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- A. Fluorine dating: This is a chemical method that measures the amount of fluorine absorbed by buried bones from the surrounding soil. Since the fluorine content of groundwater varies, this method cannot give an absolute age. It can only be used to determine if different bones from the same site were buried at the same time. This makes it a relative method.
- B. Dendrochronology: This is tree-ring dating. By counting the annual growth rings of trees and matching patterns, a precise calendar date can be determined. This makes it an absolute method.
- C. Stratigraphy: This is the study of rock and soil layers (strata). The law of superposition states that in an undisturbed sequence, the lower layers are older than the upper layers. This provides a sequence but not a specific age. It is a fundamental relative dating method.
- D. Palynology: This is the study of pollen grains. By analyzing the sequence of pollen types in different layers of sediment, archaeologists can reconstruct past environments and establish a chronological sequence for different sites based on these pollen zones. It provides a sequence, making it a relative method.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Fluorine dating, stratigraphy, and palynology are all relative dating methods. Dendrochronology is an absolute dating method. Therefore, the correct answer includes A, C, and D.