Basics of palaeontology

General understanding of the main principles of palaeontology and knowledge about the history of the development of the palaeontology as a science. Understanding what are fossils and how do they appear and how to find them during the field work. General characteristics of selected groups, including index fossils. Method of relative dating of rocks. Significance of fossils for biostratography and correlation.

A. Lecture: Palaeontology as a basic discipline of geology. History of palaeontology and connection with other biological and geological disciplines. Geological time and the stratigraphic chart. Main methods. What are fossils and what is their significance. General characteristic of selected fossil groups of organisms. Biostratygraphy and correlation.

B. Laboratory: work with collections, description of fossil samples, characteristics of different types and stages of the presentation, main fossil groups.