Fossils have intrigued man for hundreds of years. Since the early Greeks and Romans discovered fossilized remains of giant, unknown creatures, stories of mythological beasts began being handed down from generation to generation; however, with the discovery of fossils worldwide, science has now proven many of those tales of fiction to be fact. Fossils are the remains of plants, animals or other living organisms that have been preserved over a period of time by a variety of methods. Fossil hunters, professionally called paleontologists and archeologists, devote their lives to exploring the oceans, mountains, and deserts in hopes of uncovering some small remnant of those who came before.
The most well-preserved fossils are generally found in an area where a river or lake once existed attracting plant and animal life. Without the presence of the minerals and sediment in water, most deceased remains would simply dry up and blow away. As an organism dies, mineral rich water continually flows over and invades the cells of the organism. Layers of sediment contained in the current also form protective deposits. With a lack of oxygen, which is blocked out by the sediment, complete decomposition of the organism does not take place; bone, teeth and boney shells remain becoming rock over time.
Liquid water is not the only preserving element. Ice, in a below freezing environment, provides a favorable environment to preserve animal remains and may actually be the best process, as tissue can also be preserved in this manner. However, the animal must be frozen from the time of death until it is discovered without a lapse in temperature. Wooly mammoths have been located fairly intact in the northern hemisphere by the immediate freezing of the deceased animal.
Volcanic eruptions have also preserved many animal remains. Due to the extremely hot temperatures involved, an animal would have to be far enough away from the magma flow, but close enough to cover the exterior of the animal with layers and layers of ash. The animal would also have had to ingest large quantities of ash into their stomachs and lungs in order to accomplish preservation.
Mummies are another process by which preservation can occur. A mummified fossil is formed by the removal of body organs and body fluids, followed by a complete drying process. By removing the bacteria attracting properties found in functioning organs and blood, the decaying process is stopped. During the procedure, the outer body is continually being rubbed with natron, a natural salt and other preserving oils. The body is then wrapped in strips of linen connected by layers of resin to prevent air and bacteria from penetrating the wrappings. This process has produced many mummies found in Egypt and the Far East.
The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles have also supplied a vast array of fossils. When a live animal was attracted to the water, it could have become stuck in the tar and sunk to the bottom of the pit. As the animal sank in the sticky tar and died, tar seeped into the bones and teeth. The sediment in the water aided in the overall preservation process.
According to science, a specimen has to be at least 10,000 years old to be considered a genuine fossil. As fossils are discovered, the well-known carbon-14 dating method is conducted to determine the age of the specimen. The results of this type of testing are fairly trustworthy for items such as bone, strips of cloth, and plant remains such as pieces of wood. All living things absorb carbon; when mixed with oxygen, this carbon forms carbon dioxide. The per cent of carbon elements in the fossil compared to the per cent of carbon elements in living things today, will determine the age of the fossil. Since the carbon dating method is only reliable with a specimen up to 50,000 years old, other geological factors must be taken into account to accurately date a relic.
Explorers and adventures in the wilderness stumble across fossils frequently, but seldom realize what they are seeing could be a fossil. Geologists, archaeologists and paleontologists have a trained eye and can recognize these age-old treasures. Through the study of these fossils such as dinosaur bones, plant life preserved in rock, and fossilized marine life, valuable information has been learned about life on Earth during other eras. They can reveal the climate that was present at a particular time on the planet and provide evidence of plant and animal life that has now become extinct.
