Evolution over Geological Time
Scientists use the age of fossils as evidence for evolution. There are two ways of dating fossils: Relative dating and absolute
dating. Relative dating uses a fossil’s location in rock layers to determine that fossil’s approximate age. Fossils found
deeper in the ground are usually the oldest; whilst the younger fossils are founded within the rocks above.
TASKS:
1. Number the rock layers from oldest to youngest (1-12) in the white squares provided.
2. Write the order life evolved below:
Micro Invertebrates  Shell Fish and Insects  ____________ 
3. Given Earth is 4.5 billion years old, how long have vertebrate (chordates) existed? ____________________________
4. Describe how relative dating works. _________________________________________________________________
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Archaeopteryx (Transition Fossil)
Archaeopteryx is credited as being the earliest known
true bird. Archaeopteryx had feathers, beak, and feet
like those of modern birds. But it also had fingers,
claws, and teeth like many of the dinosaurs.
Archaeopteryx could fly, but not very well. It probably
flew like a modern day peacock, running a lot, and only
flying short distances.
5. What features did the Archaeopteryx have similar to a bird? ______________________________________________
6. What features did the Archaeopteryx have similar to a reptile? ____________________________________________
7. Many scientists believe that the first birds evolved from dinosaurs, such as raptors. Support this statement from the
geological time scale. _______________________________________________________________________________
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