How to Get Preserved as a Fossil 56. Unfortunately the
changes of any animal become a fossil are not very great, and 57. the
chances of a fossil then being discovered many thousand of years later are even
less. 58. It is not surprising that all the millions of animals that have
lived in the past. 59. we actually have fossils of only very
few. 60. There are several ways into which animals and
plants may’ become fossilized. 61. First, it is essential that the
remains are buried, as though dead animals and plants are quickly destroyed
62. if they remain exposed the air. Plants rot, while insects and hyenas
cat the flesh and bones of animals. 63. Finally, the few remaining bones soon
disintegrate the hot sun and pouring rain. If buried in suitable conditions,
however, animal and plant remains will be preserved. 64. The same chemicals
change sand and silt into hard rock will also enter the animal and plant remains
and make them hard too. 65. When this happens, we say that they become
fossilized.