What is a fossil?
A fossil is a preserved remain or trace of an organism from the past.
How it works and key principles
Formation: Bones, shells, leaf impressions, footprints and burrows are different examples. Rapid burial and suitable chemistry can improve preservation; most organisms do not fossilize. Minerals may replace tissues or leave molds and impressions in rock.
Evidence, examples and limits
Reading the past: Fossils help investigate relative ages of rock layers, ancient environments and evolutionary change. Suitable radiometric methods can date rocks, but not every fossil is directly dated that way. The record is incomplete, so absence must be assessed alongside preservation and sampling.
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