Why can you tell the relative age a fossil if layers of rock have been shifted by earthquakes?

Even if layers of rock have been shifted by earthquakes, geologists can still determine the relative age of fossils by examining the principle of superposition, which states that in undisturbed sedimentary rock layers, older layers are found below younger layers. Additionally, fossils can be correlated with known time periods based on their characteristics and the fossil record. By identifying the types of fossils present and their relationships to one another, scientists can infer their relative ages despite any geological disturbances.