by DianeD

Created on: April 06, 2009

Fossils have intrigued man for hundreds of years. Since the early Greeks and Romans discovered fossilized remains of giant, unknown creatures, stories of mythological beasts began being handed down from generation to generation; however, with the discovery of fossils worldwide, science has now proven many of those tales of fiction to be fact. Fossils are the remains of plants, animals or other living organisms that have been preserved over a period of time by a variety of methods. Fossil hunters, professionally called paleontologists and archeologists, devote their lives to exploring the oceans, mountains, and deserts in hopes of uncovering some small remnant of those who came before.

The most well-preserved fossils are generally found in an area where a river or lake once existed attracting plant and animal life. Without the presence of the minerals and sediment in water, most deceased remains would simply dry up and blow away. As an organism dies, mineral rich water continually flows over and invades the cells of the organism. Layers of sediment contained in the current also form protective deposits. With a lack of oxygen, which is blocked out by the sediment, complete decomposition of the organism does not take place; bone, teeth and boney shells remain becoming rock over time.

Liquid water is not the only preserving element. Ice, in a below freezing environment, provides a favorable environment to preserve animal remains and may actually be the best process, as tissue can also be preserved in this manner. However, the animal must be frozen from the time of death until it is discovered without a lapse in temperature. Wooly mammoths have been located fairly intact in the northern hemisphere by the immediate freezing of the deceased animal.

Volcanic eruptions have also preserved many animal remains. Due to the extremely hot temperatures involved, an animal would have to be far enough away from the magma flow, but close enough to cover the exterior of the animal with layers and layers of ash. The animal would also have had to ingest large quantities of ash into their stomachs and lungs in order to accomplish preservation.

Mummies are another process by which preservation can occur. A mummified fossil is formed by the removal of body organs and body fluids, followed by a complete drying process. By removing the bacteria attracting properties found in functioning organs and blood, the decaying process is stopped. During the procedure, the outer body is continually

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