How Has Life Changed over Geologic Time?
ES3002  The Fossil Record

Evidence suggests that the earliest life forms arose on Earth around 3.5 billion years ago. Since that time, many different organisms have lived on Earth. A record of their existence can be found as fossils preserved in rock.

Fossils are the remains or traces of once-living organisms. They can include shells, teeth, bones, footprints, leaf impressions, and petrified wood. Scan these images for fossils you can recognize.

1. Write down the name of at least one of the fossils that you think you can identify.

  !   Click each image to see a larger version.

2. What types of fossils have been found in your state?

 

 


	

 	

		
			
	

	
	

		 
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