1677 in paleontology

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            List of years in paleontology       (table)
 1667 .  1668 .  1669 .  1670  . 1671  . 1672  . 1673 
1674 1675 1676 -1677- 1678 1679 1680
 1681 .  1682 .  1683 .  1684  . 1685  . 1686  . 1687 
   In science: 1674 1675 1676 -1677- 1678 1679 1680     
Related time period  or  subjects
 1674 . 1675 . 1676 - 1677 - 1678 . 1679 . 1680 
 1640s . 1650s . 1660s -1670s- 1680s . 1690s . 1700s 
 16th century . 17th century . 18th century 
Art . Archaeology . Architecture . Literature . Music . Science +...

Paleontology, palaeontology or palæontology (from Greek: paleo, "ancient"; ontos, "being"; and logos, "knowledge") is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils.[1] This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised faeces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because mankind has encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred in the year 1677.

[edit] Fossils

  • Robert Plot misinterprets a piece of Megalosaurus thigh bone as belonging to an elephant brought to Britain when the region was under the control of the Roman Empire. Despite recognizing this find as a petirified bone, he would later make the curious claim that fossils were made by God to decorate the inside of the earth, and were thus never part of real animals.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Newman, Garfield, et al (2001). Echoes from the past: world history to the 16th century. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. ISBN 0-07-088739-X. 
  2. ^ Farlow, James O.; M. K. Brett-Surmann (1999). The Complete Dinosaur. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 5. ISBN 0-253-21313-4.