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Seriation

By K. Kris Hirst, About.com

Definition: The technique of dating archaeological sites and materials by seriation was invented by William Flinders-Petrie. Seriation is a relative dating technique, which uses percentages of types of artifacts within a particular assemblage relative to another assemblage.

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For a detailed explanation, see the Step-by-Step Description of Seriation. Further information on alternate dating techniques may be explored in the Dating Techniques Short Course.

This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.

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