lesson
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Imagine picking up a heavy rock on a beach, cracking it open, and finding the shape of a seashell trapped deep inside the stone.
How did a sea creature end up turned into solid rock millions of years after it lived?
What Makes Something a Fossil?
A fossil is the preserved remains or evidence of an organism (any living thing, like a plant or animal) that lived long ago.
To be considered a true fossil, scientists generally look for clues that are at least 10,000 years old.
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Scientists divide fossils into two main groups based on what got left behind.
So, what are the different types of clues ancient life can leave us?
Body Fossils: Preserved Parts
Body fossils are the preserved remains of an organism's actual body parts.
Hard parts like bones, teeth, shells, tree trunks, and tough leaves are the most common body fossils because they do not rot away quickly.
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What if an animal never left behind its bones, but only left a clue showing what it was doing?