Remains of once living organisms. Form from decay and are buried by sediment. Sediment hardens into rock and preserves the shape of the organisms.

Fossils Remains Molds Casts Trace Fossils Petrification

Parts of the organism that remain after the soft parts (tissue) have decomposed. Ex: Teeth, shells, and skeletons

A hollow area in the ground or rock where a plant or animal was buried in sediment.

A solid copy of the shape of an organism that is created when dirt (sediment) fills a mold and becomes a rock. Molds and cast can preserve fine details.

Activities of organisms that have been preserved Ex: tracks, trails, burrows, coprolites (dinosaur poop)

Petrified means “turned into stone” Occurs when an organism’s tissues are completely replaced by minerals. This shows a piece of petrified wood.

Extremely thin coating of carbon or rock. Preserves the delicate parts of plant leaves and insects.

Paleontologist: scientist who study fossils gathering information about past life is called fossil record. Fossil Records build up a picture of the Earth’s past environments and organisms.

Fossil record reveal changes in organisms Older Rocks – fossils with simple organisms Newer Rocks – fossils with simple and complex organisms Evolution: change in living things over time Extinct: an organism that no longer exist and will never again live on Earth Ex. Dinosaurs, Wooly Mammoth