Due to the need to procreate, the trace fossil record of dinosaurs has left us two pieces of information, the egg and the nest.  The structure, the nest, and the product of reproduction, the egg, have both been found on land much like those of birds or reptiles who also lay eggs.  Since there are different types of shells; a soft membrane shell, a flexible shell, and a rigid shell, the only shell that would really be preserved in the fossil record is the rigid shell.  The reason behind this is overburden after burial; only a rigid shell would be able to sustain a relatively decent shape or even have its shelly material preserved.  The eggs of dinosaurs can be found with the embryo still intact; however the shell which is considered to be a trace fossil  whereas the embryo is considered to be a body fossil.

    The nest may contain shell fragments from previous hatchlings or a series of eggs which mark a single lay, also known as a clutch. A clutch normally has the eggs arranged in a ring.  Shells are commonly found in pieces or in the shape of a spheroid, either oblate or semi spherical.
 
 

An excellent example of  eggs, nest and even body fossil is that of Oviraptor.  The fossil shows the semi spherical eggs in a ring with the mother brooding.  In an older fossil find, similar to this one, the fossil was misinterpreted as Oviraptor stealing the eggs.  Thus the name given also misrepresents the fossil.  With today's technology they were able to x-ray the eggs to show that the embryo was that of Oviraptor.