What general conclusion can be made about the relative age of a fossil found in a deeper rock layer?

Correct answer: It may be relatively older than fossils in upper layers

The governing idea is the principle of relative dating in undisturbed sedimentary layers. In general, lower layers were deposited before the layers above them, so a fossil found deeper is likely to be older than fossils in upper layers. This gives relative, not exact numerical, age. Option A is correct. It says “may” because geological disturbance can alter layer order; B, C, and D are incorrect.