I-Paleontology yinzululwazi. Usebenza ngezityalo nezilwanyana ezindala, ezaphelayo. Eli gama liqulethe igama lesiGrike lamandulo elithi "palaios", elithetha "endala". Umzekelo wesilwanyana esaphelayo yidayinaso.
Iingcali zePaleontologists zifuna ukufumanisa ukuba izilwanyana kunye nezityalo zaziphila njani kumawaka amaninzi okanye kwizigidi zeminyaka eyadlulayo. Ikwaphathelele indlela ezinxibelelene ngayo nezidalwa zanamhlanje. Ngale ndlela, ufunda okuthile malunga nobudala bomaleko womhlaba ezifunyenwe kuwo.
Ukususela kumaxesha amandulo abantu baye bazibuza malunga amathambo petrified okanye isityalo, iifosili. Malunga nonyaka we-1800, inzululwazi ye-paleontology yavela. UGeorges Cuvier waseFransi wathelekisa iifosili. Kwakhona wafumanisa ukuba ezinye izilwanyana zefosili azifani nezilwanyana zanamhlanje: ngoko ke izilwanyana zinokuphela.