Fossils provide important insights into history. The document discusses several significant fossil finds in Africa, including "Lucy" - the well-preserved skeleton of an early human ancestor from 3.2 million years ago. Another group of human-like hominids called "Handy Man" were taller and smarter than Lucy's species. The fossil of "Neanderthal Man" was also found, revealing information about another group that lived in the same region. Fossils can be used to determine the age of the rocks they are found in and provide clues about Earth's geological shifts over time.