MODULE 12 LESSON 1 : What are Index Fossils? FOSSILS FOSSILS The word ‘fossil’ comes from the Latin word fossus, which means ‘dug up’. - This refers to the fact that Fossils are the remains of ancient species or past life that have been preserved, or evidence of their remains. - It can be body fossils which are remains of the organism itself, or trace fossils, such as burrows, tracks, or other evidence of activity. FOSSIL RECORD The fossil record shows us that present-day life forms evolved from earlier different life forms. It shows us that the first organisms on Earth were simple bacteria that dominated the Earth for several billion years.