What Era and Period did it come from?

Describes timing and relationships between events that have occurred during the history of the Earth Divided into Eras: major changes in rock formations and fossils Eras are then divide in Periods Who makes these decisions?

Paleo-ancient life Paleontology: study of ancient life Evolution of Organisms Past Environments Paleontologists find clues through Fossils

Preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the past.

An organism must die & decay Dead organisms are buried by layers of sediment, which forms new rock All organic material is gone, a solid bone/trace is left

Only hard parts of an organism can become fossilized. Soft body parts are usually lost, except for in special conditions.

3 Main Types: 1. Preserved 2. Petrification 3. Traces

Science of determining the relative order of past events, without necessarily determining their absolute age When groups of species existed compared to one another

Index Fossil: used to identify geological time periods Characteristics: Common Easy-to-identify Wide distribution Ex. Trilobite, Flowering Plants

Radioactive dating: comparison of radioactive isotopes found in a fossil to a known decay rate

Congratulations!! You have been hand selected because of your expertise in fossils to help a team of scientists figure out some critical information about 4 fossils they recently discovered. Because they lack enough time to use radioactive dating or carbon dating techniques they need your help!!

 Outline: with the point of your pencil  Shade: with the side of your pencil  Take your time, be very detailed in your drawings