Book Description: "Interpreting the Stratigraphic Record" reflects the tremendous changes that have taken place in the discipline of stratigraphy in recent years. It covers the classical principles of lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy, still the core of the discipline. New subjects include: geochronology - the use of radioactive decay to determine absolute age; many new techniques - particularly seismic stratigraphy, magnetic stratigraphy, and isotope stratigraphy; and the interpretation of depositional environments. This text provides undergraduates, with some background in physical and historical geology, the tools to master the principles of stratigraphy as seen in surface outcrops. The author has taken care to avoid too much technical detail or specialization in order to make it accessible to students.