Scientists determine the age of fossils by using a variety of methods, such as radiometric dating, relative dating, and stratigraphic correlation. Radiometric dating is used to measure the decay of certain elements, such as carbon-14, in the fossil to determine its age. Relative dating is used to compare the age of the fossil to other fossils found in the same location. Stratigraphic correlation is used to compare the fossil's location to the location of other fossils in order to determine its age.