In this video, students learn why fossils are often referred to as “windows to the past.” The basic requirements for fossil formation are identified. Vivid footage and animations of various fossils highlight different types of fossil preservation, including petrification, imprints, molds and casts, freezing, amber fossilization, and preservation in tar pits. Finally, various ways in which we use fossils are discussed. Additional terminology and concepts: cement, paleontology, fossil fuels, preserved remains, paleontologist, sediments, and limestone.

Originally released by Visual Learning, 2008. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on April 18, 2015.

Fossils (2:04); --The Importance of Fossils (1:07); -- Fossil Formation (2:04); -- Petrification (1:10); -- Molds, Casts, and Imprints (1:53); -- Preserved Remains (1:18); -- Fossils in Our Lives (1:35); -- Summing Up (1:13); -- Video Assessment (1:47); -- Credits: Exploring Fossils (0:41); .