"Earliest fossils" refers to the very oldest remains or traces of ancient living things that have been discovered. These fossils provide important clues about the earliest forms of life on Earth and how they have evolved over time. Full definition
This timeline highlights key discoveries about our closest relatives, from early fossil finds to the publication of the draft nuclear genome sequence. (sciencemag.org)
Although earlier fossils may be found over the coming years, this is our best understanding of when and approximately where we originated. (religion.blogs.cnn.com)
An enduring puzzle about polypterids has been the lack of early fossil evidence. (sciencedaily.com)