From the 17th century questions about fossils started appearing. What were fossils? Were they made from rock or were they once organic material. It was hard to understand and figure out what fossils were. If they were to be considered to be rock then why were they found in variance of sizes and simulated a life form. It they were of a creature nature then how is that animals that were oceanic were found on top of mountains? Besides the description of the great flood from the scriptures there had to be more of an explanation. With the passing of time there were many people, scientist that contributed their ideas to the understanding of fossils. Understood was the layers of the earth were different types of sediment founded by Steno.
