Fossils are remains of hard parts of life-forms found in sedimentary rocks. A study of fossils in different sedimentary layers indicates the geological period in which they existed and reveals that life forms varied over time. The study of fossils is known as paleontology.
जीवाश्म (Fossils) अतीत के सजीवों के चट्टानों में दबे हुए अवशेष या साक्ष्य हैं। जीवाश्मों का वैज्ञानिक अध्ययन ही जीवाश्म विज्ञान (Paleontology) कहलाता है, जो विकास के सबसे प्रत्यक्ष प्रमाण प्रदान करता है।