Fossils

We are learning about fossils.

Fossils

• Fossils are traces of things that happened long ago
• Plants and animals can become fossils
• We have only discovered a small number of the plants and animals from the past
• Fossils are not the original, only a copy 

Animals

• The most famous fossils are of dinosaurs
• There are also fossils of sea creatures and mammals
• Sometimes many fossils are found in one place because of a flood, earthquake, or other disaster

Plants

• The most famous example of fossilised plants is petrified wood
• Ferns, tree leaves, and other plants have been found, too

How are Fossils Found?

• Fossils are often found by accident
• Paleontologists and geologists use clues in the rocks to find good places to hunt for fossils
• Excavating fossils is hard work, and must be done carefully

How is a Fossil made? 

• A fossil is made when a plant or animal is covered quickly with mud or ash
• The organism’s tissues are replaced over a long period of time with minerals from the soil it was buried in
• Fossils can be dated by the layer of rock they were found in, or by radiocarbon dating

Clues to the Past

• Many fossils give us an idea of what life was like long ago
• Plants give clues about the diet of animals
• Animals give clues about the availability of plants and the climate when they lived
• Many clues fit together to make a more complete picture of what the world was like long ago

Can We Ever Really Know?

• No matter how many clues we have, we can never really know what life was like long ago
• We can make an educated guess, and fill in the gaps using what we know about life today
• It’s fun to imagine what it was like when the dinosaurs lived.  Try it next time you feel bored!