Paleontologists study the record of life on Earth left as fossils
Record keeper, archaeoogist, geochemist, cryptologist, anthropoligist, palaentologist.
The cast of Prehistoric Predators - 2007 includes: Guillermo Aguirrezabala as Himself - student Marcos Akiaten Marcos Akiaten as Hunter John Babiarz as Himself - fossil collector Sara Bartelli as herself Chip Bolcik as Narrator Luis Chiappe as himself Chuck Ciampaglio as Himself - Wright State University Geordie Duckler as Himself - palaentologist Michael Gottfried as Himself - Michigan State University Gordon Hubbell as Himself - fossil collector Richard Hulbert as Himself - Florida Museum of Natural History Jim Melli as Himself - South Dakota Natural History Museum Kevin Middleton as Himself - Cal State San Bernardino Irv Quitmyer as Himself - Florida Museum of Natural History Gregory Retallack as Himself - geologist Juan Rovelio Aaron Ten Bears Roger Tilling as Narrator Lawrence Witmer as himself Stephen Wroe as Himself - University of New South Wales
Paleontologists do this... the most relevant answer and field is paleontology but many fields study relevant fossil material.Some studies are sub-categorical to paleontology. Taphonomy is the study of fossil preservation. Paleoecology is concerned particularly with the ecological interactivity in ancient environments. Paleogeography, or geographersconcerned with the theory of tectonics relied upon fossil evidence for mapping the previous orientation of the world's continents. Geologists makes use of fossils by comparison as fossils are generally geological in nature. Biologists benefit from better understanding the evolutionary derivation of characters as does medicine. Astrobiology benefits in it's search for life by better understanding the development and history of our singular example here on Earth. Zoologists such as ornithologistsbenefit a great deal by understanding the evolutionary relationships between the organisms they study. Even energy companies are interested in and study fossils since fossil fuels are, in fact, fossils- the chemical remains of ancient life. There are many other fields. Even philosophybenefits from the study, such as with ethicsderived in part by a better understanding of biology and Life.In short, paleontology and the study of ancient Life is not a valueless or narrow science and affects profoundly many aspects of science, economics, and philosophy in the modern world. It is a worthwhile investment and endeavor.