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fossil
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Images & Videos
fossil
The video thumbnail image shows an illustration of the bird dinosaur Longipteryx alongside two toy dinosaur figurines.
Dr. Jingmai O'Connor smiles and gestures toward a fossil of Archaeopteryx on display at the Field Museum, with exhibit text visible in the background.
Silhouette of a bird with outstretched wings holding a Hello, my name is ? badge, next to a set of four large, weathered bones on a dark background.
How were dinosaurs discovered?
Side-by-side illustration comparing a modern black-and-white bird on the left with a feathered dinosaur, Archaeopteryx, on the right, both with wings spread.
fossil
The Lufengosaurus fossil: The oldest soft tissue ever found?
Lufengosaurus Dinosaur fossils found in Alberta, Canada.
At a Glance
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fossil summary
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fossil: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

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    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Studying Function and Behavior in the Fossil Record. Jul 30, 2026
Media added. Nov 07, 2024
Media added. Oct 18, 2024
Media added. May 14, 2024
Add new Web site: Geosciences LibreTexts - Fossils. Jan 26, 2024
Add new Web site: NPS History - Fossil Science. Nov 02, 2023
Add new Web site: Natural History Museum - How are dinosaur fossils formed? May 19, 2023
Add new Web site: Government of Western Australia - Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety - What is a fossil? Apr 04, 2023
Add new Web site: Geosciences LibreTexts - Fossils. Sep 30, 2022
Add new Web site: British Geological Survey - Fossils. Apr 05, 2022
Add new Web site: Government of Western Australia - Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety - What is a fossil? Apr 05, 2022
Corrected display issue. Jan 06, 2020
Media added. Jan 09, 2019
Media added. Dec 03, 2018
Media added. Apr 13, 2018
Media added. Sep 01, 2017
Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - All About Fossil. Dec 09, 2016
Add new Web site: Tour Egypt - Fossils: The Other Ancient Egypt. Aug 16, 2016
Added video. Dec 23, 2015
Add new Web site: KidsDinos.com - What Are Fossils? May 30, 2014
Add new Web site: Australian Museum - Fossil. May 30, 2014
Add new Web site: Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Fossil. Dec 21, 2012
Add new Web site: Enchanted Learning - How Fossils Form. Dec 21, 2012
Add new Web site: British Broadcasting Corporation - Fossils. Dec 21, 2012
Add new Web site: University of California Museum of Paleontology - Fossil. Dec 06, 2012
Add new Web site: Oxford University Museum of Natural History - The Learning Zone - Fossil. Dec 06, 2012
Add new Web site: Fact Monster - Science - Fossils. Dec 05, 2012
Add new Web site: Buzzle.com - Fossil. Dec 05, 2012
Add new Web site: How Stuff Works - Science - Fossil. Dec 05, 2012
Add new Web site: Untamed Science - Biology - How to become a Fossil. Sep 13, 2012
Add new Web site: Science Kids - Fun Science and Technology for Kids! - Fossil Fact. Mar 16, 2012
Text describing trace fossils, microfossils, and the process of carbonization added. Feb 03, 2012
Add new Web site: NeoK12 - Educational Videos and Games for School Kids - Fossil. Nov 03, 2011
Added video describing the process of fossilization and how fossils are used by scientists to trace the path of evolution. Feb 28, 2011
New text that briefly describes the process of fossil collection, as well as a mention of the problems associated with nonscientific fossil collecting, added. Nov 05, 2009
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Science - What Is A Fossil? Feb 09, 2009
Media added. Jan 21, 2009
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Science - How Fossils Work. Dec 24, 2008
Added new Web site: American Museum of Natural History - Fossil Halls. Jun 11, 2008
Added new Web site: Fossils-facts-and-finds.com - Fossil Lesson Plan. Apr 24, 2008
Added new Web site: UK Fossils - How To Look After Your Fossils. Apr 24, 2008
Added new Web site: Tour Egypt - Fossils: The Other Ancient Egypt. Oct 11, 2007
Added new Web site: Te Ara οΏ½ The Encyclopedia of New Zealand - Fossil. Jul 26, 2007
Added new Web site: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Fossil. Jan 17, 2007
Added new Web site: Nova Scotia Museum - Fossils of Nova Scotia. Jan 16, 2007
Added new Web site: PBS Online - The Dinosaurs Weren't Alone. Sep 20, 2006
Added new Web site: The Canadian Encyclopedia - Fossil Plant. Jun 16, 2006
Added new Web site: The Canadian Encyclopedia - Fossil Plant. Jun 16, 2006
Added new Web site: Human Evolution. Jun 01, 2006
Added new Web site: Human Evolution. Jun 01, 2006
Added new Web site: Enchanted Learning - Zoom Dinosaurs. May 26, 2006
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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