1. Fossils

2. What is a fossil? Preserved remains or traces of organisms

3. How do fossils form? death(unless it’s a track or coprolite) preservation Quick burial in fine sediment & mineralization of hard parts desiccation freezing amber asphalt

4. Preservation favored if… Organism has hard parts Shells, bones, etc Only TINY percentage get preserved

5. Index Fossils organisms that a. lived for a short time throughout a wide part of the world Correlate rock layers to the same time period