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Paleontology is the scientific study of life that existed prior to, and sometimes including, the start of the Holocene Epoch roughly 11,700 years ago. It includes the examination of plant and animal fossils, which are the remains or impressions of prehistoric organisms preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock. Animal skeletons, whether belonging to modern or extinct species, are also an important part of paleontology. This field of study seeks to understand the history of life on Earth, the processes that have shaped evolution, and the ways in which organisms have interacted with their environment over time. Paleontologists use a variety of techniques, including comparative anatomy, molecular biology, and ecology, to reconstruct the ancient world and understand the processes that have led to the diversity of life we see today.