The author surveys fossil evidence for primordial life preserved in the oldest rock formations, tracing the chain of life backward through Cambrian, Precambrian, and Laurentian strata. He describes and analyzes key specimens, including stromatolitic and calcareous remains, and combines microscopic study with field observations to interpret their form and affinities. Chapters examine geological settings and preservational processes that enable organic traces to survive, while appendices review technical debates and criticisms surrounding identifications. The work weighs competing hypotheses about the origin and early evolution of life and proposes directions for further investigation.