Ancient Specimen

Ancient Specimen is a story trait that generates four points of interest on the same asteroid: the main Ancient Specimen and three smaller fossils, Amber Fossil, Frozen Fossil, and Petrified Fossil. These are not decorative curiosities; they are excavation targets tied to a late-game progression step, and each one can be discovered and worked on independently once found.

A discovered fossil does not require any special setup to begin excavation. Before the February 2024 quality-of-life update, selecting any one fossil would reveal the remaining three, making the whole set easier to locate. The main Ancient Specimen is usually found in a Temperate biome, while the three smaller fossils appear in different biomes and with different hazards: Amber Fossil in a Marsh biome, Frozen Fossil in a Tundra Biome, and Petrified Fossil in an Oil biome. The Petrified Fossil is typically surrounded by hot Magma, and Amber Fossil has a nearby plant. The remaining fossils are also partially buried in surrounding materials, with open spaces containing a small amount of carbon dioxide.

To excavate a fossil, a duplicant must have the Masterworks skill. The fossil must be fully standing on solid floor and cannot be entombed. Each small fossil type carries its own environmental danger, so excavation has to account for local conditions: Zombie Spores around Amber Fossil, freezing temperatures around Frozen Fossil, and scorching temperatures around Petrified Fossil. The smaller fossils can be deconstructed after excavation even if the story trait has not yet been completed.

Once all four fossils have been excavated, the story trait becomes ready for completion through the interface notifications. Completing it transforms Ancient Specimen into Fossil Quarry and grants one Keepsake reward, the Critter Collar, which can be displayed on a Pedestal.

After completion, Ancient Specimen continues to function as Fossil Quarry, but its behavior changes. The Fossil Quarry emits light from its lantern and can be used to request Fossil production. Operating it still requires the Masterworks skill, and it converts 1 kg Diamond into 100 kg Fossil. The produced Fossil can then be refined further in a Rock Crusher into Sedimentary Rock and Lime.

Because of its high return rate, Fossil Quarry can support a positive resource loop in Spaced Out with a Rock Crusher, Hatches, a Kiln, and a Diamond Press. This makes the completed structure more than a one-time story objective: it becomes a useful industrial source of fossil material for extended colony development.