Dating, in geology, determining a chronology or calendar of events in the history of Earth, using to a large degree the evidence of organic evolution in the sedimentary rocks accumulated through geologic time in marine and continental environments.

What is an example of scientific dating?

Radiocarbon Dating Both plants and animals exchange carbon with their environment until they die. Afterward, the amount of the radioactive isotope carbon-14 in their remains decreases. Measuring carbon-14 in bones or a piece of wood provides an accurate date, but only within a limited range.

What are scientific dating methods?

Dating techniques are procedures used by scientists to determine the age of rocks, fossils, or artifacts. Many absolute dating techniques take advantage of radioactive decay, whereby a radioactive form of an element decays into a non-radioactive product at a regular rate.