# 49: The Fossil Quest

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bedrock-earth-s-earliest-history-4890111/49-the-fossil-quest
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bedrock-earth-s-earliest-history-4890111/49-the-fossil-quest.md
Podcast: [Bedrock: Earth's Earliest History](https://stenobird.com/podcast/bedrock-earth-s-earliest-history-4890111)
Published: 2025-11-05T12:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://bedrock.captivate.fm/episode/49-the-fossil-quest
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/1a71a9aa-21a2-4def-be08-9da9339835e8.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/bedrock-earth-s-earliest-history-4890111/episodes/49-the-fossil-quest
Duration seconds: 1876

## Resource

Many folks have claimed to find Earth's oldest fossils in the Greenland rocks, 3.7 billion years old. Before we meet and judge these contenders, we need to learn what counts as a fossil. This early in Earth history, nothing has any bones or teeth or shells, so researchers need to search for other clues. Today, I'll show you four ways to look for fossils in Earth's oldest rocks, including my personal field of study: fossilized bacteria. Extra Credit: Find different types of organic carbon in your day, or eat a burger.

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## Transcript

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