
audiobook
FOSSILS A Story of the Rocks and Their Record of Prehistoric Life
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
FOSSILS - INTRODUCTION
THE PREHISTORIC RECORD
BEFORE THE AGE OF REPTILES - THE PRE-CAMBRIAN COMPLEX
THE AGE OF REPTILES
THE AGE OF MAMMALS
THE AGE OF MAN
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
Transcriber’s Notes
This listener-friendly guide opens by inviting curious minds to step beyond the museum window and explore how rocks become the pages of Earth’s ancient diary. It explains, in plain language, how everyday processes—rain, wind, and the slow grinding of stone—lay down the sediments that later turn into the layers preserving forgotten plants and animals. By connecting the familiar sight of sand and mud to the massive rock formations that hold fossils, the book sets a solid foundation for understanding the hidden stories beneath our feet.
The second part delves into what makes a fossil, describing how nature’s own rock‑making acts trap and protect remnants of life long vanished. Readers learn why most fossil evidence comes from stone, how bones and shells survive the test of time, and what simple observations reveal about the cyclical nature of erosion and burial. With vivid illustrations and clear examples, the narrative offers a glimpse into the ancient world without demanding specialist knowledge, making the science of paleontology accessible and engaging.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (176K characters)
Series
Denver Museum of Natural History, Popular Series No. 3
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Stephen Hutcheson and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
Jul 22, 2017
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
1881–1969
A museum naturalist and popular science writer, he helped make fossils and prehistoric life understandable for general readers. His work grew out of years spent explaining geology and paleontology through the Denver Museum of Natural History.
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