Over a long period of time, minerals turn an original object into a fossil. It basically makes a stone copy of it!

This can be from animals, objects and even shells from the sea!

It’s just like going back in time!

1. Dinosaur fossils have been found!

Ever wondered how we know so much about dinosaurs? It’s mainly because of the fossils that scientists have found!

It was almost 34 meters big. Wow!

2. Fossils have been found everywhere.

Fossils have been found in every continent and are everywhere!

You would never imagine this but sea creature fossils have even been found on the top of Mount Everest.

3. Poo fossils exist!

It’s not just animals that fossilize you know! You can even find fossils of poo! These are called coprolites.

Scientists have even found some from Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs!

4. Paleontologists are scientists who study fossils.

Anyone can find fossils although it helps if you know what you’re looking for!

There are people who study fossils and do this as a job! They are called paleontologists.

5. The word ‘fossil’ comes from Latin.

You might have wondered where the word fossil comes from and what does it mean?

It actually comes from the Latin word ‘fossus’ which means “having been dug up”.

6. Fossilized footprints have been found.

There have been footprints that have turned into fossils too.

The impressions fill with sediments which then fossilise.

Now we can see what our ancestors feet were like!

7. Fossils aren’t made from bone.

Fossils can sometimes look like bone – but it’s not!

Fossils are made from rock which is shaped exactly the same as the object that was originally there.

The object will be buried under sediment. This then gets squashed and turns into sedimentary rock.

Then, water will go into the bones which will turn them into rock as it is leaving behind minerals!

8. What is sedimentary rock?

A lot of fossils are found in sedimentary rock.

This is rock that has been formed from things like sand, mud and small pieces of rock.

9. Fossils can give scientists lots more knowledge!

Fossils can give scientists lots of information such as where the animal might have lived, how old they were, how they died and even what they ate!

10. Fossilization is actually very rare.

We are very lucky to find the ones we have!

This is because bones often decompose quite quickly after the animal dies and so there is nothing left to fossilize.