An Analysis Of Bias 'Buying Fossils'

At the time, although it was understood that fossils were the hardened remains of dead animals, it was not yet accepted that these animals might be extinct species from hundreds of millions of years ago. So, when Anning showed up with a giant marine reptile fossil (the world’s first Ichthyosaur) it caused quite a stir, because at the time the Bible was widely used for interpreting scientific ideas and religion ruled people’s lives. Hence Anning’s findings encouraged the largely creationist population, to rethink the history of the Earth. Her fossils had helped scientists understand how things

In the following space, explain the role of fossils in developing the Geologic column. Your explanation must be between 200 and 300 words.

The first chapter of the book discusses the way we can use fossil records to study the biological world. Fossils are one of the major lines of evidence we use to understand ourselves. Surprisingly, we are able to discover them with a high amount of precision and predictability. In particular, field paleontologists have it easier than it has ever been before due to the current information age. The physical hunt for important fossils, however, is much like it has always been. Three factors limiting the number of useful fossil sites include rock age, type (whether or not it can preserve fossils), and number of exposed rocks. So, it takes a bit of luck to reliably find fossils. Thankfully, rock

The reading passage proposes three theories which support the idea that a dinosaur which is called edmontosaurus survived in the winter by migrating to the south, the more hospitable region than the extremely cold in the North Slope. However, the professor in the listening respectively contradicts each theory in the reading passage by using strong evidence as support.

It is important because it was almost a missing link to evolution. Therefore, it could have falsified evolution. The kind of rock’s we’re very old which was the best place to look for the fossil that was also very old.

The lecture and reading are both about merits and demerits of collecting and buying the fossils by private collectors. The author of the reading states that rare and scientific fossils that are being sold to private collectors would have many negative consequences to scientists and general public. The lecture casts doubt on the claim made in this argument. She thinks that private collectors have rather benefitted for the public and scientists in further exploration of fossils.

Walking along the bank of Chartiers Creek I climb a top an array of massive rocks that look as if they had fallen from the hill side when civilization still meant hunter, gatherer. From a top the rocks I sit, and listen to the mollifying sound of the water rush past me. I close my eyes, and let the sound rush over me. I breathe in the fresh spring air which smells like life renewed. I could sit at that spot all day-for the rest of my life maybe-but it’s time to go the next, and final attraction the fossil cliff. The fossil cliff is a roughly fifty foot high sheer cliff. Through the woods I hike to its base, and start to pull away loose stones looking for fossils of long since gone plant, and animal life. A convenient sign explain the high probability for finding fossils in this particular area. I’m yet to find the uncategorized dinosaur fossil which will make me rich, and famous, but I have found a wide variety of plants (that I’m not smart enough to identify) within the rocks. After working up a sweat from walking, getting covered in dust from fossil excavation, and seeing nightfall creeping upon me it’s time to head back to my

Laura, this is an excellent discussion post. I thought you made some great points. However, I disagree with you. I do not think that there should be some regulation when it comes to fossil discovery. I believe that even if someone is an amateur fossil hunter, and they find a sacred fossils, they should be able to do as they please. I believe in the saying, "finders keepers, losers weepers." While this could be considered childish and juvenile, I believe that if you find a fossil that does not belong to anyone, you should be able to do what you please with it.

The author and his colleagues chose to focus on 375 million year old rocks in their search for fossils because amphibians that look dissimilar to fish were discovered in 365 million year old rocks, while fish without amphibian characteristics were discovered in 385 million year old rocks. Thus, it is possible that the evolutionary intermediary, or the “missing link” between fish and amphibians, would be discovered in 375 million year old rocks, between the two time periods. The rocks examined were sedimentary in composition, as the gradual and relatively gentle formation of sedimentary rock under conditions of mild pressure and low heat are conducive to the fossilization of animal remains. Sedimentary rock is also often formed in rivers and seas, where animals are likely to live. This site provides a resource that describes means by which fossils are formed and how the fossil record may be interpreted, and shows some examples of fossils demonstrating evolution through geological periods: http://www.fossilmuseum.net/fossilrecord.htm. In 2004, Shubin and his colleagues were looking for fossils on Ellesmere Island, in northern Canada. This location was chosen because of its lack of human development, as well as of obstructing natural formations and life forms such as trees, which

Because dinosaurs are animals that lived millions of years ago, we are entirely dependent on the fossils that they have left behind for any understanding that we hope to gain. As any paleontologist will tell you, fossil hunting is difficult. There are no certainties, no guarantees. A certain amount of luck is as valuable as any scientific knowledge.

The field was quickly gaining new interest and experts. The newest undisputed authority in the field was determined to ruin any other scientific evidence. This new expert did however take a big part in clearing up much of the unknown that American paleoanthropology was known for. In the year 1949 the British Museum put to use the new way of testing the age of bones using fluorine. This help to expose a human skull fitted to an ape's jaw. This exposed certian frauds but did set science back in some aspects. Durring an excavation near mississippi many animal bones of extinct animals were discovered, along with the pelvis of a human. The scientific community was shocked. This was extrordanary because the time lines did not match up. When the bones were given the flourine test it showed that all the bones had similar antiquity. Some people soon after this began to question the validity of the test, but to this day people still use flourine to radioactily date new discoveries. This also had a significant impact on the future of paleoanthropology across the world and opened the gateway to numerous other discoveries. Although i was not aware before reading this passage of the issue of people faking finds. I dont think that it is right for someone to fit an ape's jaw onto a human's skull for the sake of fame or money. That act did nothing but set

For instance, the fossil being able to withstand a blast of dynamite and still stay mostly complete is incredible. Many people have agreed that this find is the most complete fossil of this specimen so far. Researchers and fellow paleontologists must have realized that in order to find a complete fossil it would be better off to endure the back breaking work and have a complete preserved fossil rather than the chances of destroying what they are looking for most. Another one of the interesting discoveries found throughout the research was that this fossil was proven to be a grown up version of another commonly known fossil, Taung Child However, one of the most important discoveries that came with this fossil is that it is the most perfect pre-human skull. Another interesting find while researching was the argument over whether or not this specimen was a male or female. Whatever the case is, this fossil is still one of the most important and interesting discoveries to

The article that I chose for this assignment is about the recent discovery/confirmation of the first known dinosaur which lived and thrived in the water. The Spinosaurus aegyptiacus was found and collected by Dr. Nizar Ibrahim from the University of Chicago. Ibrahim along with his colleague Dr. Paul Sereno determined that based on the fossil discovered that the specimen was a swimming dinosaur. Technically, the bones of Spinosaurs were first discovered 100 years ago by a German paleontologist in Egypt. However, these bones were only a sample of the full skeleton and they were stored in a museum in Munich, Germany which was later bombed by the Allies during World War II; thus

: Fossils are the remains or traces of ancient organisms which have been preserved. For example, a fossil can exist as skeletal remains or even as a footprint. Such organisms are subjected to a slow rate of decaying since they have been rapidly buried under conditions that facilitate this. It is common for fossils to occur as hard-bodied organisms as these are more resistant to environmental influences. Fossils are usually found embedded in rock. The layers of rock are of different age and makeup. Hence fossils found in one layer would vary in characteristics from those found in another layer. They can be observed and analyzed through visual as well as radiometric means so that the age and morphology can be determined. These features indicate

The fossil record is evidence of evolution. Fossils are often fingerprints of evolution. They help scientists track how species evolved