not too long of an answer please
2007-05-29 08:27:32 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Because of the principle of superposition, which states that rocks are younger at the top than at the bottom, unless they have been overturned by tectonic processes. This is true because younger layers of sediment (in which fossils lie) are deposited on top of older layers of sediment, so that rock layers get older as you go down.
2007-05-29 08:56:00 · answer #1 · answered by rockjock_2000 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When tectonic plates collide, layers of rock can get twisted and folded, sometimes folded right over top of each other. Some of the rock gets removed by erosion, revealing a cliff face with the inverted layers.
Check the site below to see some photos of folded rock layers (scroll down the page).
EDIT: Sorry, I misread your question. I thought you asked why older fossils would be at the *top* of a cliff.
2007-05-29 15:31:01 · answer #2 · answered by Nature Boy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
By the law of super position, the oldest rock would be at the bottom, the yourger would be on the top. The bottom rock has to be the olderst because it was there first.
2007-05-29 19:38:17 · answer #3 · answered by Rob M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
layers of sediment from natural events like volcano's pile up over thousands of years meaning that the deeper you get the older things found at those depths are.
there is a volcano outside of Naples i believe that has areas around it where earthquakes have split the ground where you can go and look at the lines of sediment...just like the lines on a tree of where the volcano had erupted and left feet of ash and debris from eruption
2007-05-29 15:39:55 · answer #4 · answered by hooray beer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sedimentary layers form over time, so newer sediments are deposited over the older deposits until it's either eroded from water, glaciers, landslides, etc.
2007-05-29 15:39:06 · answer #5 · answered by Dubs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For one week; take the clothes you wear that day and pile them on top of each other at the end of the day. Where will the clothes from the first day wind up ? Definitely not on the top.
2007-05-29 15:38:47 · answer #6 · answered by Gene 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm not 100% sure, but one thing to consider is the flood, even if you chose not to believe it, it is plausable.
2007-05-29 15:32:47 · answer #7 · answered by Julie Beth 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sedimentation. ~
2007-05-29 15:38:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋