fossils
Dinosaur bone evidence
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms found in rock or sediment.
Bones, shells, and plant imprints become fossils through mineralization over millions of years.
Paleontologists study fossils to understand prehistoric life.
Figuratively, a fossil is someone or something outdated or resistant to change: He's a fossil who still uses a flip phone.
Fossil fuels—coal, oil, natural gas—formed from decomposed organisms over geological time.
Becoming rock-like
- mineralizationConversion to mineral form
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- moldForm-giving container
- castPerformers, throw, or splint
imprint · trace · preservation · amber · compression · carbonization · recrystallization · replacement
Before documented civilization
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- TriassicFirst Mesozoic period
- PermianLate Paleozoic geological period
Devonian · Cambrian · Paleozoic · Mesozoic · Cenozoic · Carboniferous · Ordovician · Silurian
Extinct segmented marine arthropod
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
- mammothExtinct elephant with curved tusks
- archaeopteryxEarly feathered dinosaur genus
megalodon · pterosaur · brachiopod · belemnite · ichthyosaur · plesiosaur · mastodon · dodo
Act of unearthing
- digUnearth by shoveling
- unearthExcavate or reveal hidden
- artifactHuman-made historical object
- siteDesignated location
find · buried · fieldwork · quarry · outcrop · specimen · expedition · preparation
Isotope-based age measurement
- radiometricMeasuring by radiation
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- chronologyTemporal ordering of events
- relative datingSequencing events by position
absolute dating · potassium-argon · uranium-lead · half-life · isotope · geochronology · correlation · sequence
Internal supportive framework
- bonesRigid internal support structure
- skullHead's bone casing
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- shellsProtective outer layers
vertebrae · tusks · claws · exoskeleton · carapace · scales · feathers · footprints
Individual for examination
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
- displayPresentation for viewing
- museumPublic exhibit space
- preparationArranging things in advance
cleaning · labeling · hunting · amateur · hobbyist · dealer · auction · replica
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- ancestryFamily line of descent
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
extinction · transitional · missing link · common ancestor · descent · lineage · divergence · homologous
petrification
Becoming rock-like
- mineralizationConversion to mineral form
- sedimentParticles settling in liquid
- moldForm-giving container
cast · imprint · trace · preservation · amber · compression · carbonization · recrystallization · replacement · burial
prehistoric
Before documented civilization
- JurassicDinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- TriassicFirst Mesozoic period
Permian · Devonian · Cambrian · Paleozoic · Mesozoic · Cenozoic · Carboniferous · Ordovician · Silurian · Pleistocene
trilobite
Extinct segmented marine arthropod
- ammoniteExtinct spiral-shelled cephalopod
- dinosaurExtinct Mesozoic reptile
- mammothExtinct elephant with curved tusks
archaeopteryx · megalodon · pterosaur · brachiopod · belemnite · ichthyosaur · plesiosaur · mastodon · dodo · paleobiology
excavation
Act of unearthing
site · find · buried · fieldwork · quarry · outcrop · specimen · expedition · preparation · matrix
carbon-dating
Isotope-based age measurement
- radiometricMeasuring by radiation
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- chronologyTemporal ordering of events
relative dating · absolute dating · potassium-argon · uranium-lead · half-life · isotope · geochronology · correlation · sequence
skeleton
Internal supportive framework
shells · vertebrae · tusks · claws · exoskeleton · carapace · scales · feathers · footprints · trackways
specimen
Individual for examination
preparation · cleaning · labeling · hunting · amateur · hobbyist · dealer · auction · replica · identification
natural selection
Differential reproductive success
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- speciationFormation of distinct species
- ancestryFamily line of descent
phylogeny · extinction · transitional · missing link · common ancestor · descent · lineage · divergence · homologous · vestigial
- earth science stuffrocks, minerals, soil, sand, clay
- ancient thingsruins, relics, artifacts, monuments, megaliths
- Archaeological Museumartifacts, pottery, pottery shards, mummies, mummy
- fossilsdinosaur bones, ammonite, amber, ammonites, brachiopod
- museum exhibitsscience exhibit, dinosaur skeleton, interactive exhibit, art displays, space exhibit
- museum itemsartifacts, relics, specimens, exhibits, Egyptian artifacts
fossilsinnovators
Creators of novel things
trailblazers · pioneers · fresh talent · young blood · newcomers
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
- fossil discoveryLocating preserved ancient organisms
- dinosaur fossilsPreserved prehistoric reptile remains
- fossil huntersThose seeking petrified remains
- fossil recordRemains documenting prehistoric life
- fossil huntingSeeking preserved ancient organisms
fossil, fossilized, fossilize, fossilization, fossilizing, fossilizes, microfossils