taphonomy
/təˈfɑnəmi/
noun
- The branch of science that studies what happens to organisms after they die, including decay, burial, and fossilization.
- The field of taphonomy combines biology, geology, and archaeology.
- By applying taphonomy, researchers can tell if a fossil was buried quickly or left exposed for years.
- Taphonomy helps scientists understand why some bones become fossils while others disappear.