Links to sites
Compiled by Jackie Miers
 
What are fossils? Types of fossils Formation of fossils Finding fossils
Excavating fossils Importance Australian Timelines
Pictures Collecting Activities News stories

What are Fossils?
What is a fossil? Find out what a fossil really is.
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/fossils/intro/index.htm

The fossils: What is a fossil?
http://www.abc.net.au/science/ozfossil/megafauna/fossils/default.htm

What are fossils?
Find out what fossils are. Click onto the brown arrow at the bottom of each page to learn more.

http://www.sdnhm.org/kids/fossils/

What are fossils? Find out about fossils by reading some information.
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/index.html

What is a fossil? Find out what the where 'fossil' come from and more..
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/prehistoric/what/index.html

Information about fossils
http://www.fossiel.net/informatie/information.php

What is a fossil? Learn out the different types of fossils by looking at the pictures.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/fossils/what-is-a-fossil.htm

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about Fossils. Find answers to questions that people often ask about fossils in Australia. http://www.amonline.net.au/palaeontology/faqs/fossil.htm


Types of Fossils

Different types of fossils. Find out about the many different types of fossils to be found.
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/fossils/intro/types.htm

Explanation of fossil types
http://www.english.fossiel.net/informatie/glossary.php

Types of Fossils.
Find out about the different types of fossils by reading the information.

http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossiltypes.html

Life has a history. Fossils show us about living things long ago. Click on to these fossils to learn more
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/intro/Introkto4b/tour7.php

Ammonites. Find out what they looked like and more.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/fossils/ammonites.htm

Invertebrate fossils. Find out what they are, when these animals lived, and what happened to them
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/prehistoric/time/index.html

Dinosaurs. Find out about dinosaur fossils, which include bones, footprints, eggs, skin, gastroliths (stomach stones), and coprolites (fossil dung).
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/prehistoric/dinosaurs/index.html

Ice-Age animals and their extinction. Find out about a range a giant mammals, birds and reptiles that lived on earth during the ice-age
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/prehistoric/mammals/index.html


Formation of Fossils

How do fossils form? Find out about the different ways fossils are formed.
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/fossils/intro/form.htm

Origin of fossils
http://www.english.fossiel.net/informatie/origin.php

How Fossils Form.
Find this out by reading some information

http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Fossilhow.html

How does an animal become a fossil?
Read the information and then look at the diagrams under the writing.
http://www.rom.on.ca/quiz/fossil/fosform.html


Finding Fossils

Finding fossils: Where are fossils. Click onto the brown arrow at the bottom of each page to learn more. http://www.sdnhm.org/kids/fossils/ffwhere.html

Finding fossils. Find out how.
http://ology.amnh.org/paleontology/stuff/findfossils.html

Where to dig. Find out what types of rocks are likely to contain fossils.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/trex/dig/

How and where fossils are found.
http://www.rom.on.ca/schools/fossils/collect.php

Where are fossils found? Read about the most common places
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/prehistoric/what/wherefound.html


Excavating and Treating Fossils

Excavating fossils. Find out what happens to a fossil after it has been found.
http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/Excavating.shtml

Preparing fossils. Find out what can be done to a fossil to make it easier to see.
http://www.rom.on.ca/schools/fossils/prepare.php

How are fossils recovered from rocks? Find out how fossils are recovered and prepared.
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/dinosaurs/sci-rock.html

Determining the age of rocks and fossils. Find out about relative and absolute dating
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/prehistoric/what/fossilage.html


Importance of Fossils
What can fossils tell us? Find out what information fossils can give us.
http://www.oum.ox.ac.uk/thezone/fossils/intro/proof.htm

What can fossils tell us? Find out what important information fossils can give us.
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/dinosaurs/sci-tell.html

The fossils: Why is the study of fossils in Australia so important
http://www.abc.net.au/science/ozfossil/megafauna/fossils/study.htm

Many groups of living things from the past have disappeared. Click on to the picture to see some examples.
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/explorations/tours/intro/Introkto4b/tour8.php

Paleontology. The Big Dig. Find out what paleontology is and why it is important.
http://ology.amnh.org/paleontology/paleodefinition.html


Australian Fossils
The beasts of Australia
http://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/history.htm

The fossils: Where can you find fossils?
http://www.abc.net.au/science/ozfossil/megafauna/fossils/locate.htm

Fossil sites of Australia. Check the map to see where fossils can be found in Australia.
http://www.amonline.net.au/fossil_sites/index.htm

Australian beasts - Fossil sites
http://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/sites/

Australian beasts  - Fact files. Find out about the Sterodopon, Tingamarra, Diprotodon and many more.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/ausbeasts/factfiles/

The fossils: Fossils at Naracoorte
http://www.abc.net.au/science/ozfossil/megafauna/fossils/naracoorte.htm

Australia's Lost Kingdoms. About Naracoorte.
Read about the importance of the fossils found in the Naracoorte Caves.

http://www.lostkingdoms.com/snapshots/pleistocene_naracoorte.htm

Wonambi Fossil Centre - A virtual tour.
http://www.parks.sa.gov.au/naracoorte/wonambi/index.htm

Australia's Lost Kingdoms. About Murgon.
Read about the important fossils scientists found in Murgon, Queensland.

http://www.lostkingdoms.com/snapshots/eocene_murgon.htm

Australia's Lost Kingdoms. About Lightning Ridge. Read about ancient mammal fossils found at Lightning Ridge. 
http://www.lostkingdoms.com/snapshots/cretaceous_early_lightning.htm

Australia's Lost Kingdoms. About Riversleigh. Find out about the fossil finds at Riversleigh.
http://www.lostkingdoms.com/snapshots/miocene_early_riversleigh.htm

The fossils of Riversleigh.
Find out about the fossils that have been found at Riversleigh and view some photos.
http://www.australianwildlife.com.au/features/riversleigh.htm

Australia's Lost Kingdoms. True Blue Aussie Dinos.
Find out about some of Australia's dinosaurs.

http://www.lostkingdoms.com/snapshots/cretaceous_early_dinosaurs.htm

Australia's Lost Kingdoms. Fascinating Animal Facts.
http://www.lostkingdoms.com/facts/index.cfm

Fossils Found in Australia.
Find out about the different fossils that have been found in each state of Australia.

http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/dinosaurs/dinofossils/

Australia Before Time : Our Geological and Fossil Heritage.
Click onto 'Next Page' to find out more.
http://www.ahc.gov.au/publications/geofossil/

Ediacara Fauna Fossils. A factsheet from the Australian Heritage Commission
http://www.ahc.gov.au/publications/geofossil/ediacara.html

Ediacara Hills, South Australia.
Read about the oldest known fossils of multi-cellular animals in the world, found in our very own state, South Australia!

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/vendian/ediacara.html

List of Fossils in Historical Geology : Precambrian. Look for the Australian fossils from Ediacara in this list and click on to the link for a photo and description of the fossil.
http://www.toyen.uio.no/palmus/galleri/montre/english/m_prekambrium_liste_e.htm

Ediacaran Diorama. This picture is a reconstruction based on what scientists believe South Australia's Ediacara Hills environment looked like millions of years ago.
http://www.mnh.si.edu/museum/VirtualTour/Tour/First/Early/early3.html

Dickensonia : Ediacara Hills, Australia. Find out about this fossil by reading the information and looking at the photo.
http://www.mnh.si.edu/museum/VirtualTour/Tour/First/Early/early4.html

The Strange World of Ediacara. Two other examples of Ediacara fossils. 
http://palaeo-electronica.org/1999_1/cover/cover3.htm

Archaeocyatha. See examples of fossils from the Ajax Mine, Beltana, Australia
http://www.yale.edu/ypmip/taxon/pori/10112.html

Archaeocyatha. Find out about this group fossils that have also been found at Beltana in the Flinders Ranges. Click on to the 3 buttons at the bottom of the page to find out more. 
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/porifera/archaeo.html

Archaeocyatha. Use the pictures of Archaeocyatha found in South Australia to help you learn what they are.
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~wstoddar/archaeocyatha.html

The Plesiosaur. Find out about this amazing opalised fossil found near Coober Pedy
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/fossils/fgw2.htm

Ichthyosaurs - extinct dolphin-like reptiles. Find out about these fossils found near Coober Pedy
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/fossils/fgw3.htm

Gems from a desert ocean. Look at these beautiful opalised fossils.
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/fossils/fgw4.htm


Geologic Timelines
Geologic Timeline. Go back in time with this Geologic Timeline. There are pictures of fossils for each time period that you can enlarge.
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/timeline.html

Geological Eras and Periods
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/prehistoric/what/eras.html

Snapshots Through Time. Step back in time and find out about Australia's past from 110 million years ago to the present. 
http://www.lostkingdoms.com/snapshots/index.cfm


Pictures of Fossils
Palaeontology collection : Highlights. Look at these pictures of fossils from the palaeontology collection of the Australian Museum Online.
http://www.amonline.net.au/palaeontology/collections/highlights.htm

Palaeontology collection : Trilobites.
http://www.amonline.net.au/palaeontology/collections/trilobites.htm

New Trilobites. See the amazing new trilobites that have been found almost intact in Morocco. Click on to each trilobite.[After the file has downloaded you can click and drag the image to rotate the exhibit]
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/virtual-wonders/index2.html

Virtual Ammonite.
[After the file has downloaded you can click and drag the image to rotate the exhibit]
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/virtual-wonders/vrammonite.html

Collection of Ediacaran Fossils.
http://www.es.mq.edu.au/courses/GEOS425/home.htm

The Stone Company: Fossils for Sale.
Although this is a commercial site, there are some good pictures of a variety of fossils.

http://www.fossilcompany.com/fossils/index.html


Collecting Fossils

How to Collect Fossils. See what you need to start collecting fossils.
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/fossils/how-to-collect.htm

Collecting fossils in New South Wales
http://www.amonline.net.au/factSheets/collecting_fossils.htm

Fossil techniques. Includes tips for where and how to get started on fossil collecting. http://www.lmpc.edu.au/Resources/Science/fossils2/pages/fossil_techniques/techniques.html


Activities and Games
Fossil Game. See whether you can match the fossils with their modern relatives.
http://www.rom.on.ca/quiz/fossil/fosgame.html

The Mystery of the Broken Necklace. See if you can solve the mystery of the broken necklace.
http://www.childrensmuseum.org/geomysteries/necklace/a1.html

Fossil detectives visit the Museum. Go on this virtual visit and see gum tree turned to stone, a T rex skull, a giant wombat-like marsupial called Diprotodon and the extraordinary opalised skeleton of a plesiosaur.
http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/fossils/detectives01.htm

Return of the Plesiosaur. Travel back in time and take a short, cold swim in the Eromanga Sea. Discover a plesiosaur hunting belemnites and collecting drop-stones. Keep an eye out for the ichthyosaurs!http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/fossils/fgw8.htm#return

Junior Level Fossil activities from Museum Victoria. Things to make and do, and to write about. http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/dinosaurs/activ-jr.html

Middle Level Fossil activities from Museum Victoria. Things to make and do, and to write about. http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/dinosaurs/activ-mid.html


News Stories About Fossils

Australian 'Nessie' fossils found. Read about the fossils of two new species of plesiosaur that were discovered near Coober Pedy in South Australia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5220784.stm

Sea monster found in desert. Find out about this fossilised reptile that was found in Queensland.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1375598.htm

Early turtle ancestor found. Find out about the 110 million year old fossils of several turtles that have been found in Queensland.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1303111.htm

Tiger fossil site rewrites megafauna history.
Read about the fossilised Tasmanian Tiger and two partial Diprotodon skeletons that were discovered in South Australia.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s353703.htm

Farmer's Fossil Find Excites. The Fossil is 560 Million Years Old.
Read how a sheep farmer in Australia has discovered a fossil of the world's oldest vertebrate - the common ancestor of all animals with a backbone. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3208583.stm

Ice Age Marsupial Topped Three Tons, Scientists Say. Read about the giant, wombat-like marsupial that roamed Ice Age Australia.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/

Oldest Human Skulls Found. Read about three fossilised skulls that were unearthed in Ethiopia. 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2978800.stm

160,000-Year-Old Fossilized Skulls From Ethiopia Are Oldest Modern Humans. Read another article about these skulls.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030612090827.htm


© Jackie Miers 2004 - 2007
Page Last Updated January 2007