Who Are the People Who Dig Up Fossils?

Paleontologists

• Paleontology is the study of prehistoric life, and often paleontologists practice this study by searching out new fossils in order to learn more about what prehistoric life was like. Most paleontologists have a doctoral degree, which implies a great deal of study and, depending on the specific doctoral program, a minimum amount of time spent learning the best practices for field work. They also usually have the backing of a post-secondary institution, a museum or some other organization, and they can use this professional status to gain access to fossil sites that others might be barred from. Paleontologists are usually motivated by the advancement of scientific knowledge, though other motivations like prestige within the scientific community might also come in to play.

Fossil Hunters

• Fossil hunters are amateur fossil collectors. They might go looking for fossils for scientific reasons, to expand their knowledge or to make a profit. A rare, well-preserved fossil can be worth quite a lot of money to a museum or private collector. Most amateur fossil hunters are self-funded, but a sufficiently rare and well-preserved specimen, say of a T-Rex, can sell for over a million dollars, so one discovery is all it takes to make a fortune.

Fossil Clubs

• Fossil clubs and fossil societies also often go looking for fossils. Their motivation, again, ranges from scientific pursuit of knowledge to profit to merely collecting. Depending on the size and funding of the clubs, they might have more resources available to themselves, and they could, for example, fund larger, more sustained fossil searches or gain access to the equipment necessary to properly extract a larger specimen. Among many such clubs, the Florida Fossil Hunters meets monthly, shares discoveries and hosts field trips.

Students

• Students also go looking for fossils as part of their studies in paleontology or a related field, like archeology. Often paleontologists are teachers and take students into the field to further their education. Field work, especially in a discipline like paleontology, is an important part of the education process. A student might not want to go into field work, but having the firsthand knowledge of where fossils come from can be invaluable later in a career.