What is the scientific study of fossils called?

The scientific study of fossils is called paleontology. Paleontologists investigate preserved remains, impressions, tracks, burrows, and other traces of ancient life to reconstruct how organisms lived and how life has changed through geological time.

Fossils are more than isolated curiosities. Their location in rock layers can help scientists determine relative ages and correlate strata across regions. Fossil anatomy also reveals evolutionary relationships, while fossilized footprints, nests, tooth marks, and coprolites can provide evidence about behavior, diet, movement, and ancient environments.

Paleontology overlaps with geology because fossils are found and dated within rocks, and with biology because researchers compare ancient organisms with living ones. Anthropology focuses mainly on humans and human cultures; archaeology studies relatively recent human activity and artifacts. Geology covers Earth’s materials and processes more broadly, so it includes but is not limited to fossil research.