Fossils

Fossils are the evidence or remains of prehistoric life – plants or animals. We use fossils to work out the relative ages of rock layers, and to date rocks of similar ages that are found in different locations.

Palaeontology The study of fossils is called paleontology. Something is a fossil if it is older than years. –Anything younger than years is called an archeological remain.

Fossil or Remains?

What Fossils Tell Us By examining the remains of plants and animals that existed long ago, and comparing them to more recent fossils, we can understand how they evolved, or why they became extinct. We can also link evolution or extinction to environmental conditions.

Types of Fossils Bones and shells are called body fossils.

Trace Fossils Footprints, tracts, and burrows are called trace fossils.

The three main sources of information about fossils are: 1.Their form or shape 2.Their nearest living relative 3.The type of sediment they were buried in