Quick quiz for those of you who’ve always been into fossils.

1. What is a fossil?

A) The bones of a dead creature
B) Stone in which minerals have replaced the remains of a dead creature
C) A footprint, claw mark, burrow or other record of what a dead creature once did

(Hint: More than one answer may be correct.)

2. At how many national parks in the United States have fossils been discovered?

A) Six
B) Fifty six
C) Over two hundred sixty

The National Park Service has an interesting website about fossils. Some terrific fossils have been discovered in our national parks. Apart from the fact that fossils are way cool, why does the government spend some (a very small portion) of our tax dollars on studying fossils? The website explains that, too. In brief, what’s gone before has much to tell us about life on Earth today.

So here’s wishing you a happy National Fossil Day.

Answers:

1.  A, B, & C
2.  C