Final answer:
Archaeologists analyze ancient non-fossilized remains, such as the teeth from Hoyo Negro, to glean insights into extinct species and past environments. They distinguish non-fossilized remains from permineralized fossils to understand the past more comprehensively. Evidence from these remains contributes to knowledge about dietary habits, societal behaviors, and geological events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Non-fossilized Remains in Paleontology
When archaeologists recover and analyze ancient non-fossilized remains, such as teeth found in Hoyo Negro, they are discerning aspects of the past not typically preserved in the fossil record. Non-fossilized remains can include unaltered bones, which are distinct from permineralized fossil bones. These remains can provide crucial information on the diet, health, and lifestyle of individuals and may suggest that the organisms are now extinct. Moreover, the preservation of such remains in environments like bogs, amber, tar, or ice can offer an exceptional view of the past, like the mummified wooly mammoth calf found in Alaska. Paleontologists use clues from the placement of remains, as in the case of H. naledi and Neanderthals, to hypothesize on societal behaviors like funerary practices. The discovery of fossils from various geological layers, especially those correlated with mass extinctions, helps construct timelines and understand historical biodiversity on Earth.