adjective
- relating to taphonomy, the study of how organisms decay and become fossilized after death
Usage: scientific; paleontology
Examples
- The taphonomic processes affected how well the dinosaur bones were preserved.
- Researchers studied the taphonomic conditions that led to the exceptional fossil site.
- Taphonomic analysis revealed that the specimens had been buried rapidly.
- The paleontologist examined taphonomic evidence to understand the ancient environment.
- Different taphonomic factors influence whether soft tissues are preserved in fossils.
- The team’s taphonomic research explained why some bones were missing from the skeleton.