1. Paleontology or ‘Study of Fossils’
Historical perspectives on Fossils
&
How to become a fossil without really trying

2. Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Leonardo sketched fossils and recognized
them as the remains of ancient life.

3. Fossils Remains or traces of ancient life
Bones, Teeth, Shells, Tracks, Trails
Soft tissues – rare

4. ?-How does an organism become a fossil?
Rapid burial is essential
Protection from scavengers, decomposers, physical deterioration

5. What helps? How do we re-build human form?
Hard or durable tissues, such as:
Shells
Bones
Teeth
Exoskeleton
Woody tissue

6. Most fossils are formed from the hard parts of organisms.
bones
Most fossils are formed from the hard parts of organisms.
woody stems
shells

7. ?-What conditions favor preservation?
Rapid burial is most likely in ocean
Sea creatures with shells are fairly easy to preserve
Conclusion: Marine organisms with hard parts are most likely to become fossils

8. Types of Preservation Original shell, bone or teeth Molds and Casts
Trace fossils: burrows, tracks, trails
Soft Tissues
Carbon film
Amber
Mummified ?-What does mummification have to do with fossils?
Frozen

9. Fossils can also form when organisms are preserved in resins.
Tracks of organisms can be preserved.

10. Where Fossils Occur Almost Exclusively in Sedimentary Rocks
Heat of Melting or Metamorphism Would Destroy Almost Every Type of Fossil
Rare Exceptions:
Some Fossils in Low-grade Metamorphic Rocks
Trees Buried by Lava Flow
To Be Preserved, Organisms Have to Be:
Buried Rapidly After Death
Preserved From Decay

11. Ripple Marks, Bay Beach

12. Fossil Ripple Marks, Baraboo Range

13. ?-What would this observation tell a scientist?
Current
Fossil

14. Modern Mud Cracks

15. Fossil Mud Cracks, Virginia

16. ?-What would this observation tell a scientist?
Current
Fossil

17. Original Hard Material

18. Altered Hard Tissue

19. Molds and Casts
?-Explain how this happened.

20. Carbon Film

21. Amber
?-Explain how this happened.

22. Impression and Carbon film
?-Explain how this happened.

23. Carbon Film - Plants ?-Explain what this is.
?-Is it soft tissue or hard tissue and why?

24. Define: Superposition: Mindoro Cut, Wisconsin

25. Dating Technique

26. ?-Why/how do we use Fossils? ?-What do they tell us?
History of Life on Earth
Evolution – appearances of new species
Extinction – disappearances of species
Guide in exploring for fossil fuels

27. Commonly Preserved: Hard Parts of Organisms: Bones Shells
Hard Parts of Insects
Woody Material

28. Rarely Preserved Soft or Easily Decayed Parts of Organisms:
Internal Organs
Skin
Hair
Feathers

29. Dinosaur Tracks, Texas ?-This is called what?

30. Fossil Tree in Lava Flow, Hawaii