Fossils

A fossil is the remains of a dead organism that has been preserved through a process called fossilisation. Fossilisation is very rare and only happens under special circumstances. When an animal dies, the soft parts of its body rot away, leaving the hard skeleton behind. This becomes buried by layers of sediment and turns to rock. Water seeps into the rock and dissolves the bone, leaving an imprint in its place. Take a close look at some fossils of creatures that lived millions of years ago in this collection.