Fossils
Fossils are the remains of living organisms, either plants or animals, that have been preserved. Below you will find out more about how they are preserved and the different types of fossils there are. Fossils allow us to see how Earth used to be – was it covered in oceans? was there oxygen? what kind on animals dominated?. They are important because they can be the only evidence that certain animals and lifeforms existed. Palaeontologists, geologists who study fossils, are able to find out things such as the order of rocks, the ages of rocks, the evolution of Earth and its animals such as humans, and how the concentration of gasses in our atmosphere, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide has changed over time.
Types of fossils
There are many different types of fossils that you can find, and more often than not, they are fragments of the organism rather than the whole thing. Have you seen any of these around?
Fossils in Ireland
Find out about the types of fossils we find in Ireland. Do some of thses surprise you?
Using fossils to date rocks
Fossils are a great way to date rocks, but how do geologists do it?
Ireland’s Fossil Heritage
One of the initiatives Geological Survey Ireland is involved with is ‘Ireland’s Fossil Heritage’. It is a science engagement project funded by Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) based at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University College Cork (UCC). The project aims to increase awareness of, and interest in, Irish fossils by offering a diverse range of free resources to the public, including school workshops, a travelling exhibit, science and art collaborations and lots of interactive web content for all ages and backgrounds.