John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center facts for kids
| Established | July 2011 |
|---|---|
| Location | Orange County, California |
| Type | Research Institute |
The Dr. John D. Cooper Archaeological and Paleontological Center, often called the Cooper Center, is a special place in Orange County, California. It helps protect and study amazing old things found in the area, like millions of fossils and ancient artifacts.
What is the Cooper Center?
The Cooper Center was started in July 2011 by OC Parks and California State University, Fullerton. Its main job is to take care of all the important archaeological and paleontological finds from Orange County. This includes a huge collection of about six million fossils! These fossils tell us about ancient life, from tiny plants to giant animals that lived long, long ago.
What do they study?
- Archaeology is the study of human history. Experts look at old things people left behind, like tools, pottery, or buildings. These items help us understand how people lived in the past.
- Paleontology is the study of ancient life. Scientists called paleontologists study fossils, which are the remains or traces of plants and animals from millions of years ago. Fossils can be bones, shells, or even footprints.
Who was Dr. John D. Cooper?
The Cooper Center was named to honor Dr. John D. Cooper. He was a geology professor at California State University, Fullerton. Dr. Cooper worked very hard to make sure the important Orange County collection of fossils and artifacts was protected. He passed away in 2007, but his efforts led to the creation of this center.
