Why are dinosaur fossils more abundant than human bones?

With their long lifespan, large number of species, and large body size, dinosaurs left behind significantly more fossil bones than humans.

What is a fossil?

Fossils are the remains and remains (corpses, footprints, skeletons, hard shells.) of organisms preserved in layers of rock, and are the main research subject of paleontology.

The origin of the name "fossil" in English, the word "fossil" comes from the Latin "fossilis" meaning "to dig up".

Conditions for fossil formation

Not every living thing that dies leaves behind a fossil. To form a fossil requires extremely strict conditions, as difficult as winning the lottery.

When a living thing dies, its body must be buried, in whole or in part, in an ideal environment such as sand, mud, silt or volcanic ash. Otherwise, it will be destroyed by many external factors such as sunlight, rain, bacteria, mold, erosion… and very quickly, there will be nothing left.

How fossilized dinosaur bones were found

The chances of fossilizing dinosaur bones being found are as rare as the conditions for living creatures to form fossils. They are scattered all over the world, deep in underground sediments, but paleontologists cannot just dig around to find them. Over many years and through tectonic uplift, the sedimentary rocks containing the fossils will be pushed to the surface. Over time, sun, wind, rain, snow, etc. will erode the sedimentary rocks and expose the fossils.

Most fossils will fall off, deteriorate, and disappear during this period. However, if you are lucky enough to encounter someone with a keen enough eye to recognize them (such as fossil hunters and paleontologists), they will be excavated and brought back for study and display. Fossils are almost something that can only be encountered, not sought after.