Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Fossil evidence refers to the remains or traces of organisms from the past, preserved in geological formations. This evidence provides a historical record of life on Earth and is used to support theories about evolution.
Related terms
Paleontology: The scientific study of the history of life on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.
A branch of geology concerned with the study of rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). It's used to establish relative ages and histories of rocks and fossils within those layers.