Paleontology Definitions
Paleontology is the study of what fossils tell us about the ecologies of the past, about evolution, and about our place, as humans, in the world. Berkeley
[Paleontology is] a field which integrates both biology and geology to solve the riddles of the history of life. Douglas Erwin
Paleontology is among the broadest of all human pursuits, literally essential for an adequate understanding of the history (and future) of the Earth's climate, as well as its biodiversity, ocean circulation, and geochemical cycles. Fossils are key tools for the dating of rocks and the location of hydrocarbons, and for reconstructing past positions of continents and oceans (and thus for an understanding of the tectonic and seismic history of the Earth). It is now widely recognized by Earth scientists that life is one of the most important geological forces on this planet. From erosion to carbon and oxygen in the atmosphere, organisms have been profoundly affecting geological processes for several billion years. We know this in large part because of paleontology. Warren Almon
Paleontologists study the fossilized remains of life, including vertebrate organisms such as fishes, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and dinosaurs (vertebrate paleontology); invertebrate organisms such as ancient snails, clams, ammonites, foraminifera, and arthropods (invertebrate paleontology); and preserved plants such as leaf impressions and petrified wood (paleobotany).
By studying fossilized organisms, ancient soils, geochemistry, and biochemistry, paleontologists are currently engaged in answering questions of global and regional climate change and investigating the anatomical and evolutionary changes of life over time. Bureau of Land Management
Some paleontologists who study hominids such as Australopithecus and Homo erectus before they picked up rock and began using it to butcher other animals with it, call themselves archaeologists. Since the line between human and hominid is to some extent fluid, and the study is pretty interesting, who am I to quibble?—Kris Hirst
More Definitions
This feature is part of the About.com Guide to Field Definitions of Archaeology and Related Disciplines.
