Palaeontology is the study of fossils as a guide to the history of life on earth. + palaeontologist palaeontologists palae·on·tolo·gist just as a palaeontologist can reconstruct a dinosaur from one of its toes. a British spelling of paleontology
see palaeontology. the study of fossils (=ancient bones, plants etc that have been preserved in rock) (paleo- + onta + -ology). or palaeontology Scientific study of life of the geologic past, involving analysis of plant and animal fossils preserved in rocks. It is concerned with all aspects of the biology of ancient life forms: their shape and structure, evolutionary patterns, taxonomic relationships with each other and with modern species, geographic distribution, and interrelationships with the environment. Paleontology has played a key role in reconstructing the Earth's history and has provided evidence to support the theory of evolution. Data from paleontologic studies have also aided petroleum geologists in locating deposits of oil and natural gas, which are frequently associated with the remains of certain ancient life forms
The study of fossils of animal and plant life that existed in remote geological times The study of these remains enables scientists to trace the evolutionary history of extinct as well as contemporary organisms Paleontologists also play a major role in unraveling the stratigraphic mysteries of the earth's crust and by using detailed information on how fossils are distributed in sedimentary strata, they help prepare accurate geologic maps, which are essential in the search for oil, water, and minerals