Taphonomy

Taphonomy is the scientific study of the processes that affect the remains of organisms after they die and until they are discovered as fossils. It involves understanding how organisms become preserved in the fossil record and the factors that influence their preservation.

Key Concepts

• Decomposition: Understanding the processes of decomposition and how they lead to the ultimate preservation or destruction of an organism's remains.
• Fossilization: Exploring the various ways in which organisms can become fossilized, including through mineralization, carbonization, and other processes.
• Taphonomic Bias: Recognizing the potential biases in the fossil record due to variations in preservation potential for different organisms and environments.
• Diagenesis: Studying the chemical and physical changes that occur to organic remains as they become fossilized.
• Paleoecology: Examining the interactions between organisms and their environments, including how taphonomic processes can affect the interpretation of ancient ecosystems.

Study Tips

When studying taphonomy, it's important to:

• Understand the different pathways of fossilization and the conditions under which they occur.
• Learn about the factors that influence taphonomic processes, such as burial environment, sediment type, and biological activity.
• Be familiar with case studies that demonstrate taphonomic processes in action, including exceptional fossil sites and well-preserved specimens.
• Consider the implications of taphonomy for interpreting the fossil record and understanding ancient life and ecosystems.
• Practice identifying taphonomic signatures in fossil specimens and understanding their significance.