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Do scientists use anything besides carbon-dating to determine the age of fossils?

April 26, 2017age determine fossils Mathematics Other - Science scientists

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Do scientists use anything besides carbon-dating to determine the age of fossils?

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There are direct and relative dating methods available to determine the age of fossils. Radiometric dating techniques (direct) are most often used. Carbon dating is only useful for dating organisms that died less than ~50K years ago, so other isotopes are used for older periods. Palynology is another method used for dating. When fossils are not available, key events in the history of life may sometimes be dated using molecular approaches.