Index Fossil
A fossil from an organism that existed for a short time, it is used to determine the age of other fossils
Real World Example
Imagine you're trying to determine the age of a photo album, but there's no date listed on the pictures. This is similar to using index fossils, where a specific fossil, like a photo of a well-known event, helps date the surrounding fossils (or photos). Just as a picture of a unique event, like a famous concert, can pinpoint the year the album was put together, an index fossil from an organism that existed only for a short time helps scientists determine the age of other fossils found in the same layer.
Practice Version
