What are the advantages of relative dating over absolute dating?

Since relative dating can easily be verified by superposition (the younger bed over the older one), intrusion (the intrusive being younger than the intrusive rock), and use of index fossils (younger fossils in a rock layer make that layer younger than another containing older fossils), relative dating can be confirmed right at the field using one's direct observation. It could also be immediately confirmed in the base office once maps and cross sections are updated and the rock units confirmed.

Absolute dating entails laboratory analysis of rock samples that will take a longer time. further, the dating results will still have to be cross-checked with mapping data.