Paleontology is the scientific study that deals with the history of life through the analysis of fossil records. This fi involves exam____ fossils—rem____ of orga____ preserved i____ rock—t____ understand h____ ancient li____-forms evo____ and ada____ to their surroundings. Paleontologists also use fossils to learn about ancient environmental conditions. Finding marine fossils in landlocked areas, for example, suggests that these regions were very likely underwater once upon a time.