Absolute dating is a process used in archaeology and geology to determine the age of an object or event in years. It provides a numerical age or range, in contrast with relative dating, which places events in order without any measure of the age between events. Absolute dating methods measure the physical properties of an object itself and use these measurements to calculate its age. Some examples of absolute dating techniques include:

• Radiocarbon dating: This method measures carbon isotopes, which are versions of the element carbon. All isotopes of carbon have 6 protons but different numbers of neutrons. By measuring the ratio of stable carbon to carbon-14, scientists can calculate the date when the radioactive decay process started, which is the time when the plant or animal died.

• Potassium-argon dating: This method is used to date rocks and minerals, and it is based on the decay of radioactive potassium-40 to argon-40.

• Trapped-charge dating: This method includes techniques such as thermoluminescence dating of glazed ceramics, which measures the energy from radioactive decay that is trapped inside nearby crystals.

Absolute dating is usually based on the physical, chemical, and life properties of the materials of artifacts, buildings, or other items that have been modified by humans and by historical associations with materials with known dates (such as coins and historical records) . Geologists also use absolute dating methods to give rocks an actual date or date range in numbers of years/07%3A_Geologic_Time/7.02%3A_Absolute_Dating).