how were the fossil symbols and mountain belts helpful in deciding where to move the continents

Fossil symbols and mountain belts were helpful in deciding where to move the continents because they provided crucial evidence for past continental configurations. Fossil symbols showed the presence of identical or very similar fossils of plants and animals on continents that are now widely separated by oceans. For example, fossils of the same species, such as the seed fern Glossopteris and the freshwater reptile Mesosaurus, were found on continents like South America, Africa, and Antarctica. These fossils implied that these continents were once joined, allowing these species to live across continuous landmasses. Mountain belts also helped by revealing geological connections across continents. Similar age and structure mountain ranges found on different continents suggested that these continents were once connected and the mountain belts formed as a result of tectonic collisions. For instance, matching mountain belts in eastern South America and western Africa indicated where these continents had physically joined before drifting apart. Together, fossil evidence and the alignment of mountain belts helped geologists reconstruct the past positions and movements of continents, supporting the theory of continental drift and plate tectonics by showing that continents had shifted from a previously joined supercontinent arrangement to their current separated locations.