Statistical and other quantitative methods are now very much part of the paleontologists' tool kit. PAST is a free, user-friendly and comprehensive package of statistical and graphical algorithms, tailor made for the scientific investigation of paleontological material. PAST provides a window on current and future developments in this rapidly evolving research area. Together with a simple manual and linked case histories and datasets, the package is an ideal educational aid and first-approximation research tool. Planned future developments include extended functionality for morphometrics and the extension of available algorithms within the cladistics and unitary associations modules.