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dougd
Can Any One Id This Fossil?
Because archaeology is listed here under social science.Bystander said:What's this doing in "Social Science," anyway?
Evo said:Because archaeology is listed here under social science.
Yep, I know, it was decided to lump everything together because there wasn't enough posting individually, paleontology was grouped with anthropology and archaeology.Bystander said:"Fossil" denotes anything dug from the ground if one works from the strictest definition of the word. Conventionally, archaeologists dig anthropogenic "artifacts" from the ground, paleontologists dig "fossils" of any life forms from the ground, and geologists dig "fossils" of geologic processes from the ground (Okla a "fossil" reactor, Chinle formation, a "fossil" river). Is "Lucy" a "fossil" or an "artifact?" Yeah, there's overlap, and archaeologists, anthropologists, and paleontologists are forever poaching on each others' turf; the first two are "social sciences" in most classification schemes, and the the third is regarded as Earth or life science.
I can't make out what the picture is either.Is the OP showing us a fragment of furniture embedded in consolidated ash fall from Pompeii or Herculaneum, dinosaur rib from the Morisson, petrified wood from who knows where, fish bone from Kansas? Hard to tell without a better photograph. Addressing the question in more detail, a photograph of a large indistinct chunk of the matrix in which a fossil is embedded is NOT a fossil --- photograph the anomalous structure, color, shape.
A fish fossil is the preserved remains or impression of a fish that lived millions of years ago. Fossils are formed when the bones or body of a fish are buried in sediment and over time, mineral deposits replace the organic material, creating a replica of the original fish.
To identify a fish fossil, you can look for specific features such as the shape and size of the fossil, the location where it was found, and any distinguishing characteristics like fins, scales, or teeth. You can also consult with a paleontologist or use online resources for further identification.
Fish fossils can be found in various locations around the world, such as sedimentary rocks, river beds, and ocean shores. They can also be found in museums, fossil parks, and private collections. It is important to obtain permission and follow any regulations before collecting fish fossils in a specific area.
Fish fossils can range in age from a few million years to hundreds of millions of years old. The age of a fish fossil can be determined through radiometric dating, which uses the decay of radioactive isotopes to estimate the age of the fossil. This can provide valuable information about the evolution and history of fish species.
Yes, fish fossils can provide important clues about ancient environments and ecosystems. The location, sediment, and other fossils found with a fish fossil can reveal information about the climate, geography, and other living organisms that existed during the time the fish lived. This can help scientists reconstruct the past and understand how environments have changed over time.