Geological Time Key Terms

The preserved evidence in rocks or soils of organisms that were once alive

• PALAEONTOLOGY

• PALAEONTOLOGISTS

• FOSSILS

• FOSSIL RECORD

A technique that compares the age of one fossil or rock against another to determine which is older

• RELATIVE DATING

• ABSOLUTE DATING

• INDEX FOSSIL

• STRATA

The study of prehistoric life

• PALAEONTOLOGY

• PALAEONTOLOGISTS

• FOSSILS

• FOSSIL RECORD

Scientists who study prehistoric life

• PALAEONTOLOGY

• PALAEONTOLOGISTS

• FOSSILS

• FOSSIL RECORD

A list showing the classification of all the species that have been found as fossils

• GEOLOGICAL TIME SCALE

• FOSSILS

• FOSSIL RECORD

• INDEX FOSSIL

A technique that determines the actual age of rocks and fossils

• RELATIVE DATING

• ABSOLUTE DATING

• INDEX FOSSIL

• STRATA

Layers of sedimentary rock

• SEDIMENTARY ROCK

• SEDIMENTS

• FOSSILS

• STRATA

A scale showing the history of life and geology

• FOSSIL RECORD

• GEOLOGICAL TIME SCALE

• INDEX FOSSIL

• FOSSIL

A fossil that can be used to compare the relative age of rock strata in different locations

• INDEX FOSSIL

• STRATA

• FOSSIL

• FOSSIL RECORD