Final answer:
During Darwin's time, people had limited understanding of fossils and believed in fixity of species. However, some scientists recognized fossils as remains of once-living organisms that had changed over time. This laid the groundwork for Darwin's theory of evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
During Charles Darwin's time, people had a limited understanding of fossils. Prior to Darwin's theory of evolution, most people believed in the concept of fixity of species, which stated that all species were created in their current form and did not change over time. It was also believed that the Earth was only about 6,000 years old. However, a few scientists, such as Georges Cuvier and Robert Hooke, had begun to question these traditional views and recognized that fossils were the remains of once-living plants and animals that had undergone significant changes over time. These early observations and ideas laid the groundwork for Darwin's revolutionary theory of evolution and the understanding of fossils as evidence of biological adaptation and species divergence.