ANTHROP 2FF3 Chapter Notes -Relative Dating, Dentition, Cenozoic
Document Summary
Fossils and their place in time and nature (ch. 7) Organisms chemically changed into minerals (fe and silica) Organics have been replaced (i. e. became inorganic) through ground water. Microfossils: corals and marine creatures/shells, ancient tool makers noticed these indentations, date back to 500-345 mya (well before dinosaurs) Pale anthropology: study of extinct humans and their ancestors. Taphonmy: the laws of burial (study of what happens to decaying organisms) Requires an anoxic (no o2) environment where decomposition is limited. Organisms must be buried quick- so that there is no exposure to microorganisms. Primarily found in sedimentary rock- esp. those deposited in oceans. But also found in ancient cave sites (e. g. south africa) There is always some sort of bias . Representation bias: not all kinds of animals will be represented everywhere. Fossil record only provides a snapshot of life in the past. Fossil findings must be pieced together to create a story (i. e. things are interpreted)