Question

Match the relative dating method to the principle on which it operates.

1. Association - Objects found in the same stratigraphic layer were buried at the same time.
2. Seriation - Assemblages of objects can be arranged in serial order to create a relative chronology.
3. Typological sequences - Artifacts with similar characteristics were produced at the same time.
4. Stratigraphy - In a succession of layers the bottom layer is the earliest and the top layer the most recent.

Answer 1

Stratigraphy follows the principle of superposition, with older layers at the bottom and newer layers at the top. Association is based on the premise that items in the same layer are of the same age. Seriation and typological sequences order artifacts chronologically based on similarity and design, respectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

The relative dating method stratigraphy operates on the principle that in a succession of layers, the bottom layer is the earliest and the top layer is the most recent. This concept, known as the law of superposition, can be applied to both geological strata and archaeological stratigraphy. When applying stratigraphic superposition in archaeology, objects found within a stratum, or those cutting across multiple strata, are assumed to be younger than the stratum itself. Association suggests that objects found within the same stratigraphic layer were buried simultaneously. The seriation method is used to arrange artifacts in a chronological sequence based on similarities, establishing a relative chronology within the same culture. Typological sequences rely on artifacts sharing characteristics that were likely produced around the same period.