The history of fossils over centuries. From folklore to science/ История ископаемых через века. От фольклора до науки

The discovery in the past of strange and unknown petrifed objects has given rise to many legends and superstitions since the remotest antiquity. Before recognizing fossils as the remains of ancient beings who lived in the more or less remote past, scholars of natural things had to struggle at least until the beginning of the nineteenth century. At the same time, popular culture has continued to maintain the ancient knowledge to this day, remembering part of the ancient rituals. We report some testimonies. <...>