Paleontology
Relative dating is used to determine the relative order of past events by comparing the age of one object to another. This determines where in a timescale the object fits without finding its specific age; for example you could say you’re older than your sister which tells us the order of your birth but we don’t know what age either of you are. There are a few methods of relative dating, one of these methods is by studying the stratigraphy. Stratigraphy is the study of the order of the layers of rocks and where they fit in the geological timescale. This method is most effective for studying sedimentary rocks. Cross dating is a method of using fossils to determine the relative age of a rock. Fossil remains have been found in rocks of all ages with the simplest of organisms being found in the oldest of rocks. The more basic the organism the older the rock is. This practice supports the theory of evolution which states that simple life forms gradually evolve over time to form more complex ones. If undisturbed, layers of sedimentary rocks help to determine the relative age of rock: the oldest being at the base and the newest on top.