Not many things actually have their dates on them, so we have to look for clues that can tell us how old something is. This is something everyone can do.
The simplest things we can date are usually from the more recent past – those things that actually have the dates on them or there are written records about them. Lots of man-made objects have dates or makers' marks on them that can help us find their ages. It is not so easy for natural objects or for things with no marks. We have to look at these in a different way. It’s a lot like detective work!
Looking at their shapes and styles, maybe considering where they were found and what with, can all help us date them.
Capturing Time invites you to explore how we can estimate how old things are by looking at the objects themselves or the places where they were found.
Today’s Date invites you to explore some of the ways we all use dating in our everyday lives.
Visit the following pages to find out more about Capturing Time .
Dating Change
Simple Dating
Evolution
The Look of Things
The Importance of Context
Ammonites and Zone Fossils
Mans First Tool
Problems with Relying on Change for Dating
What our Visitors Think
’It’s very interesting and the children have enjoyed it. We’ve learned a lot and we liked being able to compare the same objects from different eras.’
’It’s good because there’s lots of stuff to do - you’re not just running round being bored!’
Visitors to Fingerprints of Time at the Yorkshire Museum, York