Fossils are any evidence of past life preserved in geologic context. They are a tangible connection to life, landscapes, and climates of the past. They show us how life, landscapes, and climate have changed over time and how living things responded to those changes. All fossils are irreplaceable! Every fossil tells its own story and its place in the book of prehistoric life.
Although there is always a major element of luck in finding fossils, professional paleontologists and experienced avocational collectors do not leave things to chance. The careful study of geological maps helps to identify suitable areas for prospecting. Fossils occur in sedimentary rocks, which were deposited by wind or water.
The best places are river cuts, cliffs and rocky hillsides, and human-made exposures such as quarries and road cuttings. Chance also plays a role as many fossils are found accidentally by hikers, construction workers, miners and farmers.
Looking for fossils takes patience and perseverance. Sometimes you spend days or weeks in the field before finally making an interesting find. Sometimes you don’t find anything in a location because some rock layers just don’t have that many fossils.
Success heavily depends on learning how to distinguish fossils in a particular type of rock. Every sedimentary formation has its own unique mineral content, combined with often unique fossil types, meaning that they have a different preservation, and unique look. In order to be successful, you have to “get your eyes in” meaning that you have learn how to spot fossils in an area.
Most of the time, fossils are only partially uncovered on site, then removed individually or in blocks before being taken back to a laboratory.