I was wondering how different cultures/civilizations would have explained fossil bones if they encountered them. Are there any historical records that describe fossil remains, prior to the field of paleontology being developed? Is it possible that the idea for Western dragons from the middle ages or monsters from antiquity (such as the minotaur etc.) are interpretations of the bones they found, or are they purely the works of over imaginative folktales?

Obviously today we know they aren't "monsters" but back then if you happend across the remains while digging/mining etc. it must have come as a massive shock and been the talk of the town, how would the church have explained the remains, if they were even interested/contacted?

I hope I'm asking in the right subreddit.