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Fantastic Fossils
A Guide to Finding and Identifying Prehistoric Life
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Fantastic Fossils
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See moreIn Fantastic Fossils, Donald R. Prothero offers an accessible, entertaining, and richly illustrated guide to the paleontologist’s journey. He details the best places to look for fossils, the art of how to find them, and how to classify the major types.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
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Description
Nothing fills us with a sense of wonder like fossils. What looks at first like a simple rock is, in fact, a clue that reveals the staggering diversity of ancient environments, the winding pathways of evolution, and the majesty of a vanished earth. But as much as one might daydream of digging a hole in the backyard and finding a Tyrannosaurus, only a few places contain these buried treasures, and when a scientist comes across a remnant of prehistoric life, great care must be taken. What do budding palaeontologists need to know before starting their search?
In Fantastic Fossils, Donald R. Prothero offers an accessible, entertaining, and richly illustrated guide to the palaeontologist's journey. He details the best places to look for fossils, the art of how to find them, and how to classify the major types. Prothero provides expert wisdom about typical fossils that an average person can hope to collect and how to hunt fossils responsibly and ethically. He also explores the lessons that both common and rarer discoveries offer about palaeontology and its history, as well as what fossils can tell us about past climates and present climate change.
Captivating illustrations by the paleoartist Mary Persis Williams bring to life hundreds of important specimens. Offering valuable lessons for armchair enthusiasts and palaeontology students alike, Fantastic Fossils is an essential companion for all readers who have ever dreamed of going in search of traces of a lost world.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Donald R. Prothero's Fantastic Fossils is acclaimed for transforming complex paleontological concepts into an accessible and engaging format. Enthusiastic about fossils, Prothero uses vivid prose and illustrations to guide readers through fossil hunting and its implications for ecology, evolution, and climate change. Targeted at beginners and fossil enthusiasts alike, the book is noted for its clarity, lack of jargon, and rich illustrations, making it a must-have for anyone interested in the fascinating world of fossils.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780231195799
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 19 July 2022
Country: United States
Imprint: Columbia University Press
Illustration: 364 illustrations, 8-page color insert
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 336
About the Author
Donald R. Prothero is a paleontology and geology researcher, teacher, and author. He is adjunct professor of geological sciences at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and research associate in vertebrate paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. His most recent book is The Story of the Dinosaurs in 25 Discoveries: Amazing Fossils and the People Who Found Them (Columbia, 2019).
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