Dinosaur Fossils

How we learn about prehistoric life

What Are Fossils?

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms that lived millions of years ago.

Types of Fossils

Body Fossils

Preserved bones, teeth, shells, and other body parts of dinosaurs.

Trace Fossils

Footprints, eggs, nests, and other evidence of dinosaur activity.

How Fossils Form

  1. An organism dies and is quickly buried by sediment
  2. Over time, minerals replace the organic material
  3. Layers of rock form around the fossil
  4. Geological processes bring the fossil to the surface
  5. Paleontologists discover and excavate the fossil

Famous Fossil Discoveries

Many of the dinosaurs in our encyclopedia were discovered through fossil excavations around the world. Each discovery helps us understand more about how dinosaurs lived.