Fossils: A Very Short Introduction

Fossils have been vital to our understanding of the formation of the earth and the origins of all life on it. However, their impact has not been limited to debates about geology and evolution: attempts to explain their existence has shaken religion at its very roots, and they have remained a subject of ceaseless fascination for people of all ages and backgrounds. In this delightful book, Keith Thomson provides a remarkably all-encompassing explanation of fossils as a phenomenon. How did Darwin use fossils to support his theory of evolution? What are 'living fossils'? What fossils will we leave behind for future generations to examine? Building on the scientific aspects, he places fossils in a very human context, highlighting their impact on philosophy and mythology, our concept of time, and today's popular culture. What quickly becomes obvious is that the discovery of fossils and the ways in which they have been interpreted over time makes for fascinating reading. From the black market to the Piltdown Man, and from mythological dragons to living dinosaurs, fossils hold a permanent place in the popular imagination.

Keith Thomson is Emeritus Professor of Natural History at the University of Oxford.

1. Introduction

2. A cultural phenomenon

3. In the popular imagination

4. Some things we know, some things we don't

5. Against the odds

6. Bringing fossils to life

7. Evolving

8. Of molecules and man

9. Fakes and fortunes

10. Back to the future

Further reading