2. Carefully excavate the fossil.
3. Prepare the fossil for study removing rock without causing any damage.
4. Study the fossil in the lab. Scientists will analyze the fossil's shape, size, and microscopic features to determine the type of animal or plant it came from. They may also use chemical tests to determine the age of the fossil.
5. Publish the results of their research.
Paleontologists communicate their findings by publishing their results in scientific journals so other palaeontologists and researchers can review their work.