Fossil Basics

Fossils

Preserved remains, impressions, or traces of ancient organisms that lived millions of years ago.

Body Fossils

Physical remains of an organism, such as bones, teeth, shells, and leaves.

Trace Fossils

Evidence of an organism's activity rather than its physical form, such as footprints or burrows.

Mold Fossils

Impressions left by an organism in soft sediment that later hardens.

Cast Fossils

Form when a mold fills with minerals or sediments, creating a replica of the organism.

Petrification

Occurs when organic material is replaced by minerals, turning the organism into stone.

Amber Fossils

Organisms trapped and preserved in tree resin that has hardened into amber.

Frozen Fossils

Organisms that have been frozen and preserved in ice.

Fossilization

The rare process that requires specific conditions for an organism's remains to be preserved.

Death

The first step in fossilization where the organism dies and falls into a suitable environment.

Burial

The process where the organism's remains are quickly buried by sediment to protect them.

Preservation

The process where layers of sediment cover remains and pressure turns them into rock.

Discovery

The exposure of fossils through erosion, excavation, or geological processes.

Evolution

Fossils show how species have evolved over time and provide evidence for the theory of evolution.

Ancient Environments

Fossils help reconstruct ancient ecosystems and climates.

Behavior

Trace fossils provide insights into the behavior and diet of ancient organisms.

Relative Dating

Placing fossils in a sequence based on their position in rock layers.

Absolute Dating

Uses the decay of radioactive isotopes to determine the exact age of fossils.

Index Fossils

Fossils of species that lived for a short period but were widespread, used for dating.

Fossils

The preserved remains, or traces of remains, of ancient organisms

Tyrannosaurus Rex

A famous dinosaur known from numerous fossils found in North America.

Archaeopteryx

A transitional fossil between non-avian dinosaurs and birds, showing critical evolutionary evidence.

La Brea Tar Pits

A fossil site in California where many Ice Age animals were preserved in tar.

Human Evolution

Fossil evidence of early hominids provides a timeline of human evolution.

Paleontology

The scientific study of fossils and ancient life, involving collaboration with other disciplines.