What does the term seriation refer to in archaeology?

Seriation is indeed a relative dating method that involves arranging artifacts, features, or other archaeological findings in a sequential order, typically based on the assumption that items of a similar style or function were produced during the same time frame. This technique allows archaeologists to establish a chronological sequence of cultural changes over time without needing absolute dates.

By analyzing changes in artifact styles, materials, and frequencies across different layers of an archaeological site, seriation provides insights into the development and evolution of cultures. Through this process, researchers can compare collections from various sites to determine relative ages, thereby enhancing their understanding of cultural transitions and interactions.

In contrast, the other options focus on methods or techniques that fall outside the scope of seriation. For instance, dating historical texts pertains to textual analysis rather than artifact arrangement; identifying specific cultures does not encompass the sequential order aspect of seriation; and radiocarbon dating is a specific technique that measures the decay of carbon isotopes in organic materials, unrelated to the chronological sequencing of artifacts.