NAVIGATION

The word fossil literally means ‘dug up’ and one Renaissance theory suggested that fossils were formed from tiny stone seeds that grew and then perished inside the earth. Another speculator held that they were ‘trial runs’ the creator had decided not to infuse with life. It was the genius Leonardo da Vinci who correctly explained the origins of fossils. He was a pioneer in stratigraphy; the study of the origin, composition, distribution and succession of the earth’s layers. By the 19th century wealthy English collectors were spending small fortunes on fossils and would finance expeditions to dig for them.