paleontology

n. science of the study of geological periods through the study of fossil evidence

Palaeontology redirects here. For the scientific journal, see Palaeontology (journal). Paleontology, palaeontology or palæontology (from Greek: paleo, "ancient"; ontos, "being"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge") is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised faeces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Studies of prehistoric hominins, their culture and their behaviour are the purview of two other disciplines, archaeology and paleoanthropology.
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Noun
1. the earth science that studies fossil organisms and related remains
(synonym) palaeontology, fossilology
(hypernym) earth science
(hyponym) paleobiology, palaeobiology

(n.)
The science which treats of the ancient life of the earth, or of fossils which are the remains of such life.
  

Synonyms and related words:
aerobiology, agrobiology, anatomy, astrobiology, bacteriology, biochemics, biochemistry, biochemy, bioecology, biological science, biology, biometrics, biometry, bionics, bionomics, biophysics, botany, cell physiology, cryobiology, cybernetics, cytology, ecology, electrobiology, embryology, enzymology, ethnobiology, exobiology, genetics, gnotobiotics, life science, microbiology, molecular biology, pharmacology, physiology, radiobiology, taxonomy, virology, xenobiology, zoology