A date that places an event in its chronological position with reference to a universal time scale such as a calendar. Such dates usually are given in terms of the number of years before or after a calendar starting point. For instance, 1950 B. C. Was 1950 years before the beginning date of the Gregorian calendar, which is commonly used today. Chronometric dating methods include the use of written records, dendrochronology, and radiometric methods. See relative date.