4 Fossils

Fossils written by John Lockyer

约翰·洛克耶写的化石

Fossils are important signs of ancient life. They are found preserved in rock in many parts of the world. Fossils can be tiny plants and animals, or enormous dinosaur footprints and bones. Fossils are millions of years old.

化石是古代生命的重要标志。 它们被保存在世界上许多地方的岩石中。 化石可以是微小的植物和动物，也可以是巨大的恐龙脚印和骨头。 化石有数百万年的历史。

A fossil can begin to form when an animal dies. Over a long time, the dead animal's body is covered with many layers of sand and mud. Then the sand, the mud, and the animal's bones slowly turn into hard rock. Sometimes, millions of years later, the fossil is uncovered.

当动物死亡时，化石就会开始形成。 经过很长一段时间，动物的尸体上覆盖着许多层沙子和泥土。 然后沙子、泥土和动物的骨头慢慢地变成坚硬的岩石。 有时，数百万年后，化石被发现。

body fossil Body fossils are the whole body or parts of the body of a plant or an animal. Imprint fossils are plants and trees that have rotted and left an imprint in rock. Trace fossils are markings, like footprints, tracks, burrows, and nests, made by ancient animals. sea shell fossils Fossils are found in strange places. Sea shell fossils have been discovered in the mountains. Scientists believe the mountains must have been under the sea long, long ago.

身体化石是植物或动物的整个身体或部分身体。 印记化石是已经腐烂并在岩石上留下印记的植物和树木。 痕迹化石是古代动物留下的痕迹，如脚印、足迹、洞穴和巢穴。 在奇怪的地方发现了化石。 在山里发现了贝壳化石。 科学家们相信这些山脉在很久很久以前一定在海底。

amber Body fossils have been found in amber. Amber is the hardened sap that comes from ancient trees. Tiny animals became fossils by being trapped in the tree sap, and then buried for millions of years. Many fossils are found in places with bare rock. Rocky shores, stream beds, caves, and sea cliffs have lots of fossils. These fossils are uncovered when water washes away part of the rocks.

琥珀中发现了人体化石。 琥珀是来自古树的硬化汁液。 微小的动物被困在树液中成为化石，然后被埋了数百万年。 在裸露的岩石中发现了许多化石。 岩石海岸、河床、洞穴和海崖都有许多化石。 当水冲走部分岩石时，这些化石就暴露出来了。

Scientists work together to uncover a new fossil. Paleontologists decide what the fossil is. Geologists decide how old the rocks are. Technicians use small chisels, picks, and brushes to clean away rock, dirt, and dust from small fossils. Sometimes explosives and jack-hammers are used to uncover large fossils. If the paleontologists find enough bones, they can put the skeleton of the animal together. Any missing bones are replaced with plastic copies.

科学家们共同努力发现了一块新的化石。 古生物学家决定化石是什么。 地质学家决定岩石的年龄。 技术人员使用小凿子、镐和刷子清理小化石上的岩石、污垢和灰尘。 有时使用炸药和千斤顶锤来挖掘大型化石。 如果古生物学家找到足够多的骨头，他们就能把这种动物的骨架拼在一起。 任何缺失的骨头都用塑料复制品代替。