What term refers to dating methods that provide a relative age to artifacts without using exact dates?

The term that refers to dating methods providing a relative age to artifacts, rather than offering specific dates, is relative time. Relative dating allows researchers to determine the chronological order of events or artifacts based on their position in the geological or archaeological record. This method involves comparing the placement and context of artifacts or layers of sediment; for instance, items found in deeper layers are typically older than those in layers closer to the surface.

In contrast, absolute time refers to methods that yield a precise age, such as radiometric dating, which relies on the decay of radioactive isotopes to assign exact ages to materials. Carbon-14 dating is a specific type of radiometric dating that is used to date organic materials but also provides absolute dates. Therefore, relative time is distinct as it focuses on determining the sequence of historical events rather than quantifying their exact age.