Final answer:
Absolute dating techniques, which utilize the decay rates of radioactive isotopes, were primarily developed in the 20th century, allowing for more precise dating of artifacts, fossils, and rocks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Absolute dating techniques became widely available in the 20th century. These techniques are grounded in the principles of radiometric dating, which is based on the decay rates of radioactive isotopes. Such methods can provide an approximate age for materials, making them invaluable for dating archaeological artifacts, fossils, and geological formations. Radiocarbon dating, which measures the remaining carbon-14 in a sample to estimate when a once-living organism died, is one of the most common absolute dating methods. This technique typically applies to organic material up to 50,000 years old and has helped extensively in establishing the chronological aspects of history.