Fossil Record
Definition
The fossil record refers to all fossils discovered and the information derived from them about past life forms on Earth over millions of years.
Analogy
Consider fossil records as Earth's photo album. Each fossil represents a snapshot taken at different periods throughout Earth's history capturing what life was like then - just like photos capture moments from our lives!
Related terms
Paleontology: The scientific study of life existent prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene Epoch roughly 11,700 years before present.
Stratigraphy: The study of rock layers and layering (stratification). It is used to establish the dates of fossils.
Radiometric Dating: A method used to date rocks and other objects based on the known decay rate of radioactive isotopes.
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