Evolution (Part-II)

3. Palaeontological evidences: Palaeontology is the study of past life based on the fossil record. The palaeontology study the number and nature fossils in the early rocks, distribution of fossils in the successive strata. Now the question is, What are fossils and how it is formed and provide information about evolution? The fossils are the remains or impression of the ancient organism preserved by natural means in some medium (Figure 6.1). The medium found with fossils are sedimentary rocks, amber, asphalt, volcanic ash, ice, peat bogs, sand and mud.

 

Figure 6.1: A fossil of termite in amber.