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What is a Fossil?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Fossils are the traces of ancient life, and they are used to find out more about the history of life on Earth. A fossil can take a number of forms, from an imprint of an ancient footprint in volcanic ash to an organism which has been turned to stone through the process of permineralization. You can see numerous examples of fossils on display at natural history museums, and many common fossils are also available for purchase by collectors and enthusiasts. In some areas of the world, you can also dig up your own fossils.

The word “fossil” comes from the Latin fossilis, “dug up,” a reference to the fact that most fossils must be excavated. Humans have been studying and writing about fossils since at least the time of the Ancient Greeks, when people noticed things like fossilized oceanic organisms in mountainous regions and suggested that these areas could have been underwater at some point. The collective information gathered from the millions of fossils on Earth is known as the fossil record, and the fossil record provides a number of interesting clues into what life on Earth was once like.

Fossils show that birds are descended from dinosaurs.
Fossils show that birds are descended from dinosaurs.

There are numerous gaps in the fossil record because not every organism becomes fossilized. Conditions must be absolutely perfect for the creation of a fossil; otherwise, an organism will naturally decay away, being broken down by scavengers and bacteria. Most fossils are formed because they are deposited into moist sediments where bacteria cannot survive. Fossils have been found in bogs, quicksand, clay deposits, tar pits, and volcanic ash.

Fossils were used to reconstruct and classify the extinct human population known as Neanderthals.
Fossils were used to reconstruct and classify the extinct human population known as Neanderthals.

In some cases, a fossil takes the form of a natural mold. Some excellent examples of natural molds were found in the Roman city of Pompeii, where a volcanic explosion killed numerous people by drowning them in ash, mud, and sediment. As the volcanic sediments cooled and hardened, they made molds which surrounded the bodies of the victims. Over time, these bodies eventually decayed, leaving imprints of themselves behind.

Fossils are often formed from parts of an animal that become mineralized, such as teeth or bone.
Fossils are often formed from parts of an animal that become mineralized, such as teeth or bone.

A fossil can also be turned to stone if conditions are right. In these cases, highly mineralized water fills up the empty spaces in an organism, and the minerals slowly concentrate, recording the organism's form in stone. This is fairly rare. Many deep sea organisms were fossilized in this way, as they fell to the bottom of the ocean and were buried in sediment.

Fossilized footprints can reveal information about an extinct animal's behavior.
Fossilized footprints can reveal information about an extinct animal's behavior.

Commonly fossils are formed from the parts of an animal which are mineralized while the animal is alive, such as bones and teeth. These mineralized body parts are preserved by ideal natural conditions while the flesh decays, leaving behind a skeletal record of an animal that once was. More rarely, complete animals are preserved in ice, as is the case with some Pliocene animals like mammoths.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a fossil?

Fossils in the form of natural molds were discovered in the ruins of Pompeii.
Fossils in the form of natural molds were discovered in the ruins of Pompeii.

A fossil is the preserved remains or impression of a once-living organism from a past geological age. These can include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved in amber, or DNA remnants. Fossils are primarily found in sedimentary rocks and are invaluable for understanding the history of life on Earth.

How are fossils formed?

Fossils are analyzed to discover more about the history of life on Earth.
Fossils are analyzed to discover more about the history of life on Earth.

Fossils are formed through a process called fossilization. This typically involves the rapid burial of dead organisms by sediment, protecting them from decay. Over time, the organic materials may be replaced by minerals, turning them into stone. In some cases, the conditions are right to preserve soft tissues, or even DNA, providing a more complete picture of the organism.

What can fossils tell us about the past?

Complete animals have been found preserved in ice, such as some Pliocene animals like mammoths.
Complete animals have been found preserved in ice, such as some Pliocene animals like mammoths.

Fossils are windows into the past, providing evidence of long-extinct species, their environments, and behaviors. They help scientists understand evolutionary processes, track changes in climate over geological time, and map out how different species have migrated across the globe. Fossils can also indicate the timing of major events like mass extinctions.

Where are fossils commonly found?

Fossils are often found in quicksand.
Fossils are often found in quicksand.

Fossils are most commonly found in sedimentary rocks, which are formed by the accumulation of sediments. These rocks, such as limestone, shale, and sandstone, often form in layers, with older layers buried beneath younger ones. Fossil-rich deposits can be found on every continent, with notable sites like the Burgess Shale in Canada and the fossil beds of the Maasai Mara in Kenya.

What is the difference between a body fossil and a trace fossil?

Body fossils are the actual remains of an organism, such as bones, teeth, or shells. Trace fossils, on the other hand, are indirect signs of an organism's presence, such as footprints, burrows, or feces. Trace fossils can provide unique insights into the behavior and activities of ancient organisms without requiring their physical remains.

How do scientists date fossils?

Scientists use two main types of dating to determine the age of fossils: relative dating and absolute dating. Relative dating places fossils in a sequence by comparing their locations in sedimentary layers. Absolute dating, such as radiometric dating, measures the decay of radioactive isotopes within the fossils or surrounding rocks to calculate an approximate age.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon157062

where in south africa do you find fossils?

anon89483

If one were to find a fossil organism what could you learn from the fossil's past?

DeleneaAllen

How did the fossil get here? Who created the fossils?

anon14549

Awesome info dude(s)! Just what i needed 4 study info. im going to use this site more often!

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    • Fossils show that birds are descended from dinosaurs.
      By: Bastos
      Fossils show that birds are descended from dinosaurs.
    • Fossils were used to reconstruct and classify the extinct human population known as Neanderthals.
      By: Bastos
      Fossils were used to reconstruct and classify the extinct human population known as Neanderthals.
    • Fossils are often formed from parts of an animal that become mineralized, such as teeth or bone.
      By: Falk
      Fossils are often formed from parts of an animal that become mineralized, such as teeth or bone.
    • Fossilized footprints can reveal information about an extinct animal's behavior.
      By: esebene
      Fossilized footprints can reveal information about an extinct animal's behavior.
    • Fossils in the form of natural molds were discovered in the ruins of Pompeii.
      By: Enrico Della Pietra
      Fossils in the form of natural molds were discovered in the ruins of Pompeii.
    • Fossils are analyzed to discover more about the history of life on Earth.
      By: oscarcardenas
      Fossils are analyzed to discover more about the history of life on Earth.
    • Complete animals have been found preserved in ice, such as some Pliocene animals like mammoths.
      By: PiLensPhoto
      Complete animals have been found preserved in ice, such as some Pliocene animals like mammoths.
    • Fossils are often found in quicksand.
      By: jeff gynane
      Fossils are often found in quicksand.