ANTH 1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Faiyum Oasis, Taphonomy, Geologic Time Scale
Document Summary
Ch 8: fossils and their place in time and nature. Fossils dug up : remains of living organisms transformed into rock through chemical replacement. Replacement process: minerals (calcium & phosphorus) replaced w rock-forming minerals (iron/silica) Taphonomy: study of what happens to an organism"s remains. Describe circumstances for fossils to be created. Fossilization: - cannot be exposed to environment (must be buried under sediments/ water) Remains stay in anoxic (oxygen free) environment. Found commonly in sedimentary rock [ rock formed when the deposition of sediments creates layers (strata)] Produced by water/wind carrying then dropping tiny bits of rock/sand/soil over time. South africa: sediments washed into caves where animals dropped bones into =fossils. Volcanic activity: remains buried in volcanic ash (tanzania) Limitations of the fossil record: representation is important. Key stages in record missing bc: searched for fossils in only certain areas, not preserved well, rock sequences not complete. Rich record of fossils from 37mya to 29mya, end at 29 mya.
