What is "taphonomy"

n. The study of the fate of the remains of organisms after they die, especially the study of fossilization. (from 20th c.)

Taphonomy is the study of decaying organisms over time and how they may become fossilized. The term taphonomy (from the Greek taphos, τάφος meaning "burial", and nomos, νόμος meaning "law") was introduced to paleontology in 1940 by Russian scientist Ivan Efremov to describe the study of the transition of remains, parts, or products of organisms, from the biosphere, to the lithosphere, i.e. the creation of fossil assemblages.