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Classics
Key terms
Relative dating

GCSE Classics · key term

Relative dating

Definition

Dating that establishes whether something is earlier or later than something else, without necessarily assigning calendar years.

Used by OCR

How each exam board covers it

OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation · J199

Paper 3

Archaeologists therefore combine relative dating, which establishes an earlier–later sequence, with absolute dating, which assigns calendar dates or date ranges.
Revise: The dating of the Mycenaean age

OCR Classical Civilisation past papers

Related key terms

Absolute dating
Dendrochronology
Late Helladic
Radiocarbon dating
Stratigraphy

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Relative dating — OCR GCSE Classical Civilisation Definition | GradeGen