Fossil

A fossil is a preserved piece of a plant, animal, or other living thing that lived long ago. Most fossils are found in rocks and tell us about life on earth millions of years in the past. They are like nature’s time capsules, giving clues about creatures that no longer exist, such as dinosaurs or ancient sea animals.

Fossils form when a plant or animal dies and is buried quickly by sand, mud, or other materials. Over a very long time, layers of rock build up on top. The soft parts of the organism, like skin or leaves, usually decay, but the hard parts, such as [[Bone|bones]], shells, or wood, may slowly turn into stone. Minerals fill the empty spaces in these remains, preserving their shape. Sometimes, fossils are not the actual remains but imprints — marks left behind, like footprints or leaf patterns pressed into the mud.

There are many kinds of fossils. Body fossils include bones, teeth, and shells — the actual remains of living things. Trace fossils show signs of activity, like nests, burrows, or footprints. Some fossils are preserved in unusual ways, such as insects trapped in amber (hardened tree sap) or animals frozen in ice. These types of fossils can even preserve soft tissues and give scientists more details about ancient life.

Scientists who study fossils are called paleontologists. They carefully dig fossils out of rock and study them to understand what the world was like long ago. By comparing fossils from different layers of rock, scientists can see how species changed over time — a process called evolution. For example, fossils of ancient horses show how their size and shape changed as their environment changed.

Fossils also tell stories about Earth’s history. Some show that land now dry was once covered by oceans. Others reveal that tropical forests once grew where deserts are today. These discoveries help scientists learn about climate changes, earthquakes, and the movement of continents over millions of years.

In museums, fossils are displayed so everyone can see what ancient life looked like. Dinosaur skeletons, giant sea creatures, and fossilized plants all remind us how life on Earth has changed through time. Studying fossils connects us to the planet’s past and helps us understand how life continues to adapt today.