Taphonomy is the study of the fate of the remains of organisms after they die. The term taphonomy, (from the Greek taphos meaning burial, and nomos meaning law), was introduced to palaeontology in 1940 by Russian scientist, Ivan Efremov, to describe the study of the transition of remains, parts, or products of organisms, from the biosphere, to the lithosphere, i.e. the creation of fossil assemblages, (e.g. see Shipman 1981 p.5-6, Greenwood 1991, Lyman 1994).

Taphonomists study such phenomena as biostratinomy, decomposition, diagenesis, and epibiont encrustation.

The primary motivation behind the study of taphonomy is to better understand biases present in the fossil record. Fossils are ubiquitous in sedimentary rocks, yet paleontologists cannot draw the most accurate conclusions about the lives and ecology of the fossilized organisms without knowing about the processes involved in their fossilization. For example, if a fossil assemblage contains more of one type of fossil than another, one can either infer that that organism was present in greater numbers, or that its remains are more resistant to decomposition.

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you only don't have time if you don't make time
DreamPlanFaith (dave sheahan ) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:19:11 -0000
you only don't have time if you don't make time
It doesn't cost a thing to smile, I don't have to pay to laugh...hmmm life is good! Thank u God
Metroman11 (PJ Moton) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:19:11 -0000
It doesn't cost a thing to smile, I don't have to pay to laugh...hmmm life is good! Thank u God
@Sparkling_Pixie *sighs* you told me to leave. I didn't want to anger you more.
VampireAaron (Aaron) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:19:11 -0000
@Sparkling_Pixie *sighs* you told me to leave. I didn't want to anger you more.
@Sundayatone Nice prt abt JSanders@SS...doesn't dance during timeouts<
projopatsblog (shalise manza young) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:19:11 -0000
@Sundayatone Nice prt abt JSanders@SS...doesn't dance during timeouts<<funny I said same thing. I'm 31 fan but made some mistakes recently
Feel like this is going to be one of those years when the movies I don't like take all the big awards. Think "Hurt Locker" has a chance?
rpwenz (Ryan Wenzel) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:19:11 -0000
Feel like this is going to be one of those years when the movies I don't like take all the big awards. Think "Hurt Locker" has a chance?
@deliciafay You mean we shouldn't hashtag #guildxmas?
tibits (Lydia) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:19:11 -0000
@deliciafay You mean we shouldn't hashtag #guildxmas?

 

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