1677 in paleontology

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.

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 petrified 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]

References

^ 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.
^ Farlow, James O.; M. K. Brett-Surmann (1999). The Complete Dinosaur. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 5. ISBN 0-253-21313-4.