While the results of these techniques are largely accepted within the scientific community, there are several factors which can hinder the discovery of accurate absolute dating, including sampling errors and geological disruptions.
For example, remains that have pieces of brick can undergo the process of thermoluminescence (TL) dating in order to determine approximately how many years ago the material was fired.
Geologists, for example, apply absolute dating methods to rock sediment in order to discover their period of origin.
[9] Some examples of both radiometric and non-radiometric absolute dating methods are the following: Just like geologists or paleontologists, archaeologists are also brought to determine the age of both ancient and recent humans.
It is commonly assumed that if the remains or elements to be dated are older than the human species, the disciplines which study them are sciences such geology or paleontology, among some others.
As an example Pinnacle Point's caves, in the southern coast of South Africa, provided evidence that marine resources (shellfish) have been regularly exploited by humans as of 170,000 years ago.
Dating is very important in archaeology for constructing models of the past, as it relies on the integrity of dateable objects and samples.