taphonomy
noun
ta·phon·o·my
tə-ˈfä-nə-mē 
ta-
: the study of the processes (such as burial, decay, and preservation) that affect animal and plant remains as they become fossilized
also
: the processes themselves
Examples of taphonomy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His research focuses on ancient sedimentary environments and vertebrate taphonomy—a field of inquiry that explores how organisms become preserved in the fossil record.
—
Kristi Curry Rogers, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
DeBruyn is an environmental microbiologist at the University of Tennessee studying how animal, including human, remains become part of the environment — a field sometimes referred to as taphonomy.
—Joan Meiners, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2020
Watch a Lizard Decay and a Gecko Catch a Fly
The scientific practice of recreating the fossilization process is called taphonomy.
—Rachael Lallensack, Smithsonian, 7 June 2019
The taphonomy of how skin and protofeathers preserve, or do not, is little known, and the positive presence of skin can’t automatically be taken as an indication protofeathers were absent.
—Brian Switek, Scientific American Blog Network, 14 June 2017
Paleoanthropological and paleoecological implications of the taphonomy of a sabertooth’s den Journal of Human Evolution, 29 (6), 515-547 DOI: 10.1006/jhev.1995.1074
MILFORD H. WOLPOFF, JOHN HAWKS, BRIGITTE SENUT, MARTIN PICKFORD, JAMES AHERN (2006).
—Brian Switek, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2011
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kristi Curry Rogers, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024
DeBruyn is an environmental microbiologist at the University of Tennessee studying how animal, including human, remains become part of the environment — a field sometimes referred to as taphonomy.
—Joan Meiners, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2020
Watch a Lizard Decay and a Gecko Catch a Fly
The scientific practice of recreating the fossilization process is called taphonomy.
—Rachael Lallensack, Smithsonian, 7 June 2019
The taphonomy of how skin and protofeathers preserve, or do not, is little known, and the positive presence of skin can’t automatically be taken as an indication protofeathers were absent.
—Brian Switek, Scientific American Blog Network, 14 June 2017
Paleoanthropological and paleoecological implications of the taphonomy of a sabertooth’s den Journal of Human Evolution, 29 (6), 515-547 DOI: 10.1006/jhev.1995.1074
MILFORD H. WOLPOFF, JOHN HAWKS, BRIGITTE SENUT, MARTIN PICKFORD, JAMES AHERN (2006).
—Brian Switek, WIRED, 20 Jan. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Taphonomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taphonomy. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share