Paleontology or palaeontology (/ˌplɪɒnˈtɒləi/, /ˌplɪənˈtɒləi/ or /ˌpælɪɒnˈtɒləi/, /ˌpælɪənˈtɒləi/) is the scienteefic study o life existent prior tae, but whiles includin, the stairt o the Holocene Epoch.