Year in Review Paleontology

Science News’ favorite fossils of 2019

Cambrian creatures, a tiny T. rex cousin, ancient bone cancer and more were reported

Australopithecus anamensis reconstruction and skull

Among the top fossil discoveries reported this year was this 3.8-million-year-old skull of Australopithecus anamensis (artist’s reconstruction of the hominid, left).

From left: Matt Crow/Cleveland Museum of Natural History, John Gurche (facial reconstruction); Dale Omori/Cleveland Museum of Natural History

By Carolyn Gramling

- More than 2 years ago

This year’s fossil finds, from vast new collections of species to wonderful and weird curiosities, helped reveal the richness and diversity of life on Earth over the last half a billion years.