Unit 1.8; (a); Chronology; Relative and Absolute Dating methods.

Question 1

Stratigraphy

Example of?

Answer 1

Soft sediments solidifies gradually and that too layer by layer k/a Stratigraphy

Relative dating

Question 2

Problem with relative dating

how it helps archeology?

Answer 2

Doesn’t give exact year rather tell whether who’s young and older.
Allows school to interpret and evaluate change throughout time.

Question 3

Example of relative dating

Answer 3

Flaural and Faunal series
Flourine analysis
Stratigraphy
Seriation

Question 4

Faunal Succession

who?

Answer 4

William Smith was first to do it, Father of English Archaeology.
Rocks can be arranged according to correct sequential arrangement based on fossil found in them.

Question 5

Floral
Related study/branch?
How?

Answer 5

Palynology: Study of pollen grains.

Studying pollen grain, we can tell age, by adaptation.

Question 6

Fluorine analysis
K/A
How?
How age of body is calculated?

Answer 6

FUN trio: Florine, uranium and Nitrogen is used.
F,N are born underground.
By measuring the amount of these absorbed minerals. time period can be calculated.
N2 Amount in bone left, age can be determined.

Question 7

Absolute Dating
First line
Example

Answer 7

Numerical dating that arrives at clear date.

Radio carbon dating
Potassium argon dating
Fission track dating
Dendrochronology
Paeomagnetic reversal

Other not mentioned by sir
Electromagnetic spin
Amino acid racemization

Question 8

Seriation

Answer 8

Any particular Artifact/style etc will appear gradual inc in popularity untill reaches its peak and progressively decreases.
Hence, compare relative similarity % in artifact.

Question 9

Radio Carbon Dating
What is used?
How?
Equipment?
!st by?
Half-life of element?
Accurate till?

Answer 9

c-14
Decay in Progressive Rate
Accelerator mass spectrometry
C-14 Used by William Libby used for the first time.
Half life of c-14 5,730 years whereas c-8 and others half life is very short.

Till 50,000 years

Question 10

Potassium Argon Dating
How?
Problem?
Half life?

Answer 10

K40
Compares amt of radioactive 40K to stable Argon.
Used to detect detect from Volcanic ash/stone; requires cross-checking due to atmospheric argon contamination.
1.3 Bn years

Question 11

Fission Track
What is used?
How?
Limitation?

Answer 11

Decay of Uranium.
Measure the track left in crystals by Uranium as it decays; good cross-check for K-Ar technique.
Crystal only.

Question 12

Dendrochronology
How?
Limitation

Answer 12

Annual growth rings in trees.

Requires ancient tree.