fossilised
Preserved in rock
Fossilised is the British spelling of fossilized.
Literally, it describes organic remains that have been preserved in rock over geological time: fossilised bones, fossilised plants.
Figuratively, fossilised means rigid, outdated, or unable to adapt: fossilised thinking, fossilised institutions.
The spelling with -ised is standard in British English; American English uses -ized.
Infused with inorganic compounds
- calcifiedHardened by calcium deposits
- ossifiedTurned hard, inflexible
- preservedKept from deterioration
- hardenedMade tough or unfeeling
stone · embedded · imprint · trace · sedimentary · crystallized · entombed · solidified
No longer in use
- antiquatedOld and outdated
- archaicBelonging to earlier times
- outmodedNo longer in fashion
- stagnantWithout movement or progress
rigid · unchanging · backward · hidebound · anachronistic · old-fashioned · stuck · inflexible
Extinct Mesozoic reptile
- trilobiteExtinct segmented marine arthropod
- mammothExtinct elephant with curved tusks
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- fernSpore-spreading vascular plant
pterodactyl · sabertooth · megafauna · Neanderthal · brachiopod · belemnite · ichthyosaur · archaeopteryx
Study of ancient organisms
- digUnearth by shoveling
- excavationAct of unearthing
- siteDesignated location
- specimenIndividual for examination
carbon-dating · stratigraphy · trowel · preparation · museum · collection · discovery · fieldwork
Horizontal layer of material
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- formationCreation or arrangement
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
Cambrian · Permian · Devonian · Carboniferous · Ordovician · Pleistocene · Triassic · shale
mineralized
Infused with inorganic compounds
- calcifiedHardened by calcium deposits
- ossifiedTurned hard, inflexible
- preservedKept from deterioration
hardened · stone · embedded · imprint · trace · sedimentary · crystallized · entombed · solidified · cast
obsolete
No longer in use
- antiquatedOld and outdated
- archaicBelonging to earlier times
- outmodedNo longer in fashion
stagnant · rigid · unchanging · backward · hidebound · anachronistic · old-fashioned · stuck · inflexible · dated
dinosaur
Extinct Mesozoic reptile
- trilobiteExtinct segmented marine arthropod
- mammothExtinct elephant with curved tusks
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
fern · pterodactyl · sabertooth · megafauna · Neanderthal · brachiopod · belemnite · ichthyosaur · archaeopteryx · nautiloid
paleontology
Study of ancient organisms
- digUnearth by shoveling
- excavationAct of unearthing
- siteDesignated location
specimen · carbon-dating · stratigraphy · trowel · preparation · museum · collection · discovery · fieldwork · quarry
stratum
Horizontal layer of material
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- formationCreation or arrangement
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
Cretaceous · Cambrian · Permian · Devonian · Carboniferous · Ordovician · Pleistocene · Triassic · shale · limestone
fossiliseddecomposed
Broken into simpler parts
decayed · rotted · fresh · biodegraded · putrefied
fossilisedflexible
Able to bend freely
adaptable · dynamic · evolving · progressive · modern
fossilisedmodern
Of recent times
contemporary · current · cutting-edge · up-to-date · fresh