Paleopedology is the discipline that studies soils of past geological eras, from quite recent (Quaternary) to the earliest periods of the Earth's history. Paleopedology can be seen either as a branch of soil science (pedology) or of paleontology, since the methods it uses are in many ways a well-defined combination of the two disciplines.

In geoscience, paleosol is an ancient soil that formed in the past. The definition of the term in geology and paleontology is slightly different from its use in soil science.