In terms of dating methods, what does 'method of assigning dates in chronological years' primarily describe?

The term 'method of assigning dates in chronological years' primarily refers to absolute dating. This method allows researchers to provide a specific age or date range for an archaeological find, often measured in years. Techniques such as radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, or potassium-argon dating fall under this category, as they provide a quantifiable date that can be directly compared to the established timeline of history.

In contrast, relative dating methods establish the age of an object or site in relation to others. This method does not provide a specific chronological year; instead, it indicates whether an item is older or younger than another based on the context and sequences of layers (stratigraphy) in which the items are found. Chronometric dating is a broader term that often overlaps with absolute dating but emphasizes the measurement of time in fixed units. This is why absolute dating is the most fitting answer in the context of the provided definition.