Paleontology: The scientific study of the history of life on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.
Stratigraphy:A branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It's used to establish relative ages and histories of rocks and fossils within those layers.
Radiometric Dating:A method used to date rocks and other objects based on the known decay rate of radioactive isotopes. It helps determine the age of fossils.