Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past.
Related terms
Paleontology: The scientific study of the history of life on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.
Sedimentary Rock: A type of rock that is formed by sedimentation of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. This is where most fossils are found.
Petrification: A process in which organic material is converted into stone through the replacement of the original material and filling spaces with minerals.