Preserving Our Rich Fossil Heritage

Fossils are evidence of ancient life. They are irreplaceable pieces of America's geologic heritage and tell the stories of America long before the United States existed. Fossils are found in the rocks, museum collections, and cultural contexts of more than 280 National Park Service areas and span every period of geologic time from billion-year-old stromatolites to Ice Age mammals that lived a few thousand years ago. 

painting of two dinosaurs walking across a dry lake bed
Dinosaur fossils found at least 21 NPS areas encompasses everything from some of the earliest to the last known dinosaurs of North America.

Last updated: July 29, 2022

Tools

  • Site Index