How to Identify Fossil Remains

Fossils are old preserved plants and animals.

Fossils are ancient lifeforms that have been preserved in rock. They come in all shapes and sizes, including footprints, shells, flowers and animals. The study of these formations is called paleontology. Paleontologists analyze fossil remains to understand how life evolved and what existed before human beings. They have discovered fossils ranging from 10,000 to 3.5 billion years old. If you have cracked a stone open, or found what you think is a fossil, you may be able to idenify it--but consider speaking to an expert to confirm your find.

Instructions

1. Confirm what the object you believe to be a fossil is made from. Fossils are found in rocks, which are solidified sediments. Therefore, the first stage in identifying the object is to check that it is essentially, a lump of stone.

2. Find out where your fossil came from. As Anna Bradney outlines at Clearly Explained, fossils are known to be formed under certain conditions--such as near riverbeds or coastal regions. Fossils are often set in limestone, so if your rock was found in an area that has limestone, this provides a clue that it may be a fossil.

3. Inspect the shape of the fossil. Common shapes include shells or leaves. Organisms that have been fossilized tend to be simple, and vary depending on the region where they are found. For example, in Kentucky, cephalopods are common. These look like tubelike structures. Assess the imprint to see if you can work out a distinctive animal or plant shape.

4. Rub your finger over the top of the fossil. Since fossils are imprints of organisms, the surface will be bumpy, with the surface indented with the shape of the lifeform. You should be able to feel ridges or dips on the stone if the object is a fossil.

5. Compare the object against images of other fossils. You can find these in fossil books or online. Take a trip to the library to perform some research about fossils in your region. Ask the librarian to help you find specific books.

6. Submit a photograph of your fossil to an online community such as Fossil Web or the American Fossil Federation. Fossil Web has its own "Museum of Paleontology." This is a resource for people who think they have a fossil. You can upload a photo for identification by other fossil hobbyists.

References

• University of Kentucky: Identifying Unknown Fossils
• University of Kentucky: Identifying Unknown Fossils: Tubes
• Clearly Explained: Fossils, An Introduction

Resources

• Fossil Web: Home Page
• American Fossil Federation: Home Page