taphonomy

noun ta·phon·o·my \ tə-ˈfä-nə-mē , ta- \

Definition of taphonomy

: 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

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taphonomic

play \ˌta-fə-ˈnä-mik\ adjective

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taphonomist

play \tə-ˈfä-nə-mist, ta-\ noun

Recent Examples of taphonomy from the Web

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, "Long Live the Fuzzy T. rex," 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, "Toumai and the Sabercats," 20 Jan. 2011

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'taphonomy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.