Oral Presentations
CONTINUAL DESTRUCTION OF PYRITIZED BONES OF NEOGENE MAMMALIAN FOSSIL FROM NORTHEASTERN THAILAND
— HANTA, Rattanaphorn, Research Institute of Petrified Wood and Mineral Resources, Muang, Thailand; RATANASTHIEN, Benjavun,
Chiang Mai University, Muang, Thailand; JINTASAKUL, Pratueng, Research Institute of Petrified Wood and Mineral Resources, Muang, Thailand; KUNIMATSU, Yutaka, Primate Research Institute, Kanrin, Japan
A number of mammalian fossils were discovered from mined sand pits in Nakhon Ratchasima, northeastern Thailand. The mammalian fossils were composed largely of proboscidean; Middle Miocene Prodeinotherium and Protanancus, Late Miocene Gomphotherium, Sinomastodon, and Stegolophodon; and Plio-Pleistocene Anancus, Stegodon, and Elephas. At least two new taxa of other mammalian fossils were recognized from this area, anthracotheriid Merycopotamus thachangensis and hominid Khoratpithecus piriyai. The voids and bone apatite were largely to completely replaced with pyrite during diagenesis. Other replacing minerals were sodium chloride and calcium sulfate derived from adjacent salt dome. The bones seemed to be well-preserved but soon after submerged aerially, bones become cracked as the result of oxidation of pyrite due to the expansion of sulfate salts. The destruction is continuous and currently not possible to stop the hydration processes lead to completely damage to the fossils. This is a major problem in preservation and conservation the fossils in this area. The ideal condition is to prevent the bones from being prone to oxygen. At present, the bones were saturated and flooded in lubricating oil until the appropriate treatment can be available.
ACID PREPARATION OF FOSSILS USING SULFAMIC ACID, A WEAK ORGANIC ACID, AND ITS ADVANTAGES OVER ACETIC AND FORMIC ACID PREPARATION
— PADILLA, Carlos, Fundacion Colombiana de Geobiologia, Bogota, Colombia; PARRA, Mary, Fundacion Colombiana de Geobiologia, Bogota, Colombia
Organic acids such as formic and acetic have long been used for preparation of fossils embedded in calcareous matrices. Formic acid is considered preferable to acetic acid as, although it is more aggressive, it less damaging for the fossil to have fewer immersions to remove matrix. However, at the Fundacion Colombiana de Geobiologia we have been experimenting with sulfamic acid in order to determine its effectiveness and to optimize its usage. Sulfamic acid (H2NSO3H) is a weak organic acid that is less toxic than acetic or formic acids. It has been used extensively in domestic and industrial cleaning products to remove limescale. Sulfamic acid’s logarithmic dissociation constant (pKa) is 1.18 at 25° making it stronger than acetic (pKa 4.76) or formic (pKa 3.74) acids. Due to its greater acidity, it more effectively removes large volumes of matrix given the same number of immersion cycles. The procedure developed follows the general outline of other acid preparation techniques. By experiment, 2% weight by volume (wbv) acid concentration was found to provide a good balance between time, number of immersions and fossil integrity. The fossil goes through a preliminary cleaning cycle of 10 minutes in 2% wbv sulfamic acid followed by a one day rinsing and drying cycle prior to initial protection of the exposed bone. The specimen is washed in ethanol to displace remaining moisture, and then 5 % wbv Paraloid B-72 (methacrylate resin) in ethanol is applied to the fossil as a first protective coat. Further coats of 15% wbv Paraloid are applied and this is repeated until a homogeneous, non-porous film is achieved. The specimen is completely dried before being submitted to 2% wbv sulfamic acid buffered with calcium phosphate (Ca(POH)2) to inhibit chemical action to exposed bone. The first immersion is carefully observed to see the extent of matrix removal. Results indicate sulfamic acid is effective for removal of calcareous matrix surrounding large fossils, which would otherwise have required many more cycles in acetic or formic acid. The fossil material preserves the same fine detail exposed with acetic and formic acids, but with less stress to the fossil.
FUENTESALVO SITE (VILLAR DEL RIO, SORIA), THE FIRST ACCESSIBLE DINOSAUR TRACKSITE TO THE HANDICAPPED IN SPAIN
—RASAL, Sergio, Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain; BARCO, José, Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain; CASTILLA, Daniel, Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain; LÓPEZ, Olga, Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain; RUBIO, Javier, Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain
The dinosaur tracksite of Fuentesalvo, which lies in the locality of Villar del Río in Soria (Spain), has a remarkable scientific record comprising more than 70 theropod ichnites grouped in 12 parallel trackways, making it possible for the first time to identify the presence of a structured pack of theropods. The record is exceptionally well-preserved, which makes it easy for the general public to appreciate, and the site, located just a few meters from the road, is very accessible. All these factors - together with its status as part of the Ichnite Route of Soria, an open-air museographical area with 15 sites that can be visited and a visitors’ centre - underlay the interest of the local authorities in converting it into a point of tourist and cultural interest that is also accessible to the physically and visually handicapped. After consulting various associations concerned with the integration of people with any sort of handicap, and in accordance with the codes and laws governing construction for handicapped people, a number of infrastructures were installed around the site, allowing it to be visited by the physically handicapped: a spacious area for parking vehicles, from which there is a wooden platform and a ramp rising at an inclination of less than 6% and more than 2 meters wide, designed to allow the passage of two wheelchairs. The site has also been adapted so it can be visited by the blind, for whom there are signs in relief with Braille inscriptions, and by the visually handicapped, for whom there is an information board with large-sized letters and illustrations. The protective handrails running around the site, which are made of wood so as not to clash with the surroundings, have been planed and polished to allow them also to be used as orientation and support for the blind, but without the inconvenience of splinters typical of rural installations. These measures have permitted the important record provided by the dinosaur ichnite site of Fuentesalvo to be accessible to all, thus making it the first paleontological site in Spain to be accessible to the handicapped.
APPLYING TECHNIQUES OF DIGITALIZATION USING STRUCTURED WHITE LIGHT AND MODELLING BY SINTERING TO REPLICATE VERTEBRATE FOSSILS
—MOROS, Alfredo, Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain; BARCO, José, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; CANUDO, José Ignacio, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; CUENCA-BESCÓS, Gloria, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain; SAUQUE, Victor, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
The discovery of a horn fragment in the Río Martín Cultural Park (Ariño, Teruel) has made it possible to recover the complete cranium of a Bos primigenius. The fossil remnant has been carbon-14-dated to some 45,000 years ago (Upper Pleistocene). After thorough preparation, the possibility was raised of presenting the cranium to the public as part of a temporary exhibition held in the area where it was found. However, the structural fragility of the fossil and its considerable weight, concentrated in certain parts of the item, made transporting it seem inadvisable. After analyzing the situation, it was decided to produce a replica of the fossil. For this, a technique was required that would reduce to a minimum the manipulation of the fossil remnant and that would not involve making moulds or applying products directly to the cranium. It was thus decided to apply inverse-engineering techniques, which make it possible to reproduce the fossil without touching it and also generate files that enable researchers to study the specimen without manipulating it. The process is divided into three phases, the first of which consists in the digitalization of the fossil remnant using structured white light. To this end, more than 10 million points were captured and subsequently processed to create an STL file (file type CAD). This type of file defines the shape of the fossil using small triangles (facets), which adapt to its surface. The following step was the physical reproduction of the model, for which polyamide is used, shaped by means of selective sintering by laser. This technique, which is common in the elaboration of industrial prototypes, consists of applying successive layers of 1mm-thick polyamide in accordance with the graphic model. These are heated using a laser, causing them to adhere together (sintering). The final step was the decoration of the replica with painting and dying techniques, for which - among other things - soils and iron oxides from the same source as the fossil matrix were used, thus achieving a high level of realism in the finish.
SKETCHING IT: USING DIGITAL PHOTOS, DRAWINGS, AND ARTIST SOFTWARE TO MAP A FIELD JACKET DURING PREPARATION
— ROTH, Dennis, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS, USA
I prepared a field jacket from the 2008 field season, recovered by a team from the Big Horn Basin Fossil Foundation south of Douglas, Wyoming, which has the quarry information missing or unavailable at this time. Detailed mapping of fossil quarry sites is a necessity for accurate measurement and subsequent study. Often in the field, limited information is available during excavation, leaving the preparation of the fossils vital to collecting accurate data. During each day of preparation, several digital images were taken. A schematic drawing of the field jacket was also updated with new information as each fossil was uncovered and extracted. The photos were compiled using commercial artistic software (Adobe Photoshop 7.0 â„¢), and using my notes, the fossils were outlined to create an accurate composite of a portion of the quarry floor for future study.
MITIGATING STRESS AND STRAIN WHILE DE-MOLDING DELICATE SPECIMENS FROM THE LATE CRETACEOUS MAEVARANO FORMATION OF MADAGASCAR
— GROENKE, Joseph, Stony Brook University Department of Anatomical Sciences, Stony Brook, NY, USA
Well-preserved and delicate specimens present a special case for the capture and replication of external morphological data, especially with the increasing accessibility of CT scanning in the field. When the decision to mold is made on such specimens, it is the burden of the preparator to minimize specimen damage. I report on lessons learned during seven years of molding several hundred extremely well-preserved and sometimes delicate vertebrate specimens from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Most importantly, I present a methodology and broader rationale for avoiding poured or block molds in favor of thinly layered molds. Ideally, de-molding any specimen with the aim of minimizing the forces applied to it entails removing catalyzed molding material at a vector 1) approaching the contact tension between specimen and material in magnitude, and 2) near to perpendicular in direction to every contact point on the specimen. The need for a molding material thickness great enough to withstand tearing and complex specimen morphology make this impossible, inflicting necessary stresses during de-molding. A thin mold can be pulled from the surface of a specimen with less likelihood of a force overload, since excess forces are not indirectly applied to the specimen through large amounts of silicone above the mold/specimen contact. To avoid damaging delicate specimens while still making an effective mold, I generally use 4-5 layers of a slow-setting RTV silicone, then a layer or two catalyzed with thixatropic catalyst, and finally a poured plaster mothermold to complete a mold part. I will also demonstrate a plaster mothermolding technique I use for temporarily immobilizing mold parts, so that counterparts can be removed with a minimum of force applied at the mold/specimen contact. Thin layers can increase data capture if external plugs are used to prevent undercuts in circumstance where poured molds require internal plugs. Volumetric data from CT scanning will demonstrate the extent to which layered molds are also economical if time is not a factor, since poured block silicone wastes far more material than the layered approach.
VIRTUAL REPAIR OF FOSSIL CT SCAN DATA
—JOHNSON, Mark, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; MUSTANSAR, Zartasha, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; MANNING, Phillip, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; MARGETTS, Lee, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; MUMMERY, Paul, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and 3D image-based modeling software has unlocked the ability to digitally repair distorted or broken fossil specimens, thus opening the way for interpretation of previously unusable finds. A fossilized terminal ungual phalanx from the manus of the dromaeosaur Velociraptor mongoliensis (Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, specimen LL.12392) was micro-CT scanned at the Henry Moseley X-ray Imaging Facility. Inspection of low-resolution fast-scans, revealed the Velociraptor manual ungual specimen was broken in several places, previously going unnoticed due to cement repair of the fossil. After conducting a longer high-resolution scan of the ungual the high sensitivity of the apparatus enabled separation of areas of differing density, in this case the fossilized bone and cement. Image-based modeling software produced by Simpleware allowed slice-by-slice repair in 3 planes, resulting in a complete, fully stitched 3D digital model of the ungual, whilst maintaining internal cavities and the micrometer reconstruction of trabecular architecture. This software also has the potential capability to reinflate specimens that have been compressed during fossilization, restoring skeletons to their true shape and dimension as in life. 3D dissections on geometrically precise reconstructions allows the interpretation of previously unusable specimens and reinterpretation of already described fossils. Further, use of Simpleware’s software to convert repaired fossils into micron level finite element meshes will enable the biomechanical testing of these repaired structures. Testing of fossil structure and function is already underway at the University of Manchester and is adding to our knowledge of extinct animals.
PRODUCTION OF MULTI-PURPOSE MOLDS FOR VERSATILE, DETAILED REPLICATION OF LARGE-SCALE FOSSILS: THE BASILOSAURUS ISIS CASTING PROJECT AS AN EXEMPLAR
—CHERNEY, Michael, University of Michigan Exhibit Museum, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; SANDERS, William, University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; GINGERICH, Philip, University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; ZALMOUT, Iyad, University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; ANTAR, Mohamed, Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Wadi-Al-Hitan World Heritage Site, Fayum, Egypt
Reasons for molding and casting fossils include protection of originals from handling; archiving copies; dissemination of copies; educational exhibition; and generating research copies to facilitate return of fossils to their home institutions. The quality of the fossil material, and intended use of casts, place a range of constraints on the choice of techniques and media. We have undertaken a project to replicate an extraordinarily complete 65-foot-long skeleton of the late Eocene archaeocete whale Basilosaurus isis, from Egypt. Because the skeletal material is fragile and copies must be constructed for multiple purposes (display, archive, and research), within a limited budget, materials and methods selected and developed had to be capable of safely molding large, complex bones and producing diverse types of casts. Specimens were blocked in soft, oil-free clay and molded in polyurethane rubber, which is less expensive but stiffer than silicone rubbers, requiring more parts per element to protect the originals from breakage. Molds were made less expensively by laminating rubber on the fossils and supporting them with fiberglass-and-resin mothermolds. A new method of fitting the edge of the rubber under the rim of the mothermold was designed to keep the mold parts in place for casting. Flanges were added to the mothermolds to provide sites for bolting mold pieces together during casting, without drilling into the rubber. A new method of interlocking sprue plugs in molds was developed to accommodate production of casts for overhead mounting: while all casts have surface laminations of talced, pigmented polyester resin, and research copies are hollow and strengthened for handling by internal layers of fiberglass, mount casts are reduced in weight by filling them with urethane foam. The resulting casts are durable, lightweight (research casts weigh about 1/15th of the mass of the originals, and mount casts are half the weight of the research casts), detailed, and dimensionally accurate and stable. They can be painted by water- or oil-based media. Our replication strategy should be applicable to other large-scale casting projects.
FOSSIL VERTEBRATE RECONSTRUCTION FOR SCIENCE AND THE PUBLIC
—FITZGERALD, Erin, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; SERENO, Paul, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; KEILLOR, Tyler, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; ABRACZINSKAS, Carol, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; MASEK, Robert, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Bone, flesh and graphic reconstruction of vertebrate skulls and skeletons can be extended in new directions beyond the usual level of collaboration of scientist, lab technician, artist, web designer, and film-maker. The aim is to make the role and contribution of all of these participants more accessible and interesting to the public at the moment when new discoveries are presented. We take examples from our recent collaboration on several new dinosaurs and crocodylomorphs that will soon appear in papers and in the press. First, molding, casting and skull reconstruction are useful to the scientist in ways beyond mere reproduction. We show how we used a computed-tomography scan of a skull reconstruction to develop an effective skull cross-section when the preserved bones were disarticulated. Second, the steps involved in generating a skull and flesh reconstruction can be documented by time lapse. Third, skull reconstructions and flesh models ensure accuracy in computer graphics in film documentaries. Fourth, flexible flesh models that permit manipulation are useful for scientific observation and as an effective means to explain function. Fifth, coordinating a news release, a film and the launch of a rich, interactive public website created by a community-based organization offers a new model for providing a window onto science in action and what it means to make science accessible to the public.
MOVING VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY COLLECTIONS AND PREPARATION LABORATORY AT THE YALE PEABODY MUSEUM
—FOX, Marilyn, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, CT, USA; FITZGERALD, Vicki, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, CT, USA; TURNER, Mary Ann, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven, CT, USA
The Vertebrate Paleontology Collections and Preparation Laboratory at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History have long been housed in the basement areas of the Museum and in the basement of the adjacent Kline Geology Labs. Due to much-needed upgrades to the air-handling plant for the Kline Geology building, it was necessary to move the contents of two of our large collection storage rooms, together with offices and part of the Prep Lab from their original locations. We were able to relocate some specimens within our existing storage areas, but a large part of the collection, including footprints, unprepared jackets, and oversize specimens, has now been moved to Yale’s West Campus. This site was formerly a production and research facility for Bayer Pharmaceuticals, and was acquired by Yale in 2007. The former manufacturing building, totaling over 300,000 square feet, will provide offsite storage space for several of Yale’s library and museum collections, and will also house conservation, research and specimen digitization facilities. This poster will discuss some of our procedures for packing and moving specimens as disparate as the skull of Torosaurus, fragile plaster models, and footprint slabs. In addition, solutions developed to deal with the temporary loss of large specimen preparation, and molding and casting facilities in the prep lab will be described. The poster will also explore some of the opportunities emerging at West Campus, and the challenges of managing collections, collection management, and fossil preparation when these activities are split between physically separated sites.
EXTRACTION OF FOSSILS FROM MUCH HARDER, VOLCANICLASTIC MATRIX
—BALCARCEL, Ana, AMNH, New York, NY, USA; CONRAD, Jack, AMNH, New York, NY, USA
Collaborative international expeditions to the Main Range of the Chilean Andes have discovered diverse mammal faunas and extremely well-preserved specimens over the past 20 years. The unusual nature of the surrounding volcaniclastic matrix offers unique challenges in fossil preparation. Here, we describe key issues with this matrix, a protocol for preparation, and an embedding technique for complete recovery of all preserved specimen details. The igneous-origin matrix surrounding these fossils is among the hardest and most difficult to work with that we have encountered, both in the field and at the AMNH Vertebrate Paleontology preparation laboratory. It often requires these specimens to be collected in several pieces, frequently with parts of the specimen exposed in section, and with large amounts of encasing matrix. With the matrix being significantly harder than the included fossil, and both being brittle, the exposed fossil surfaces commonly cannot tolerate direct contact from standard preparation tools. Consolidants alone cannot adequately ameliorate this condition. Extremely long preparation time is another issue when removing such large amounts of dense matrix. The best way to prepare these specimens expeditiously, and make them available for long-term study is outlined as follows: A) Use a rock saw to remove bulk amounts of rock to save weeks or months of fine-preparation time. B) Use several airscribes and other tools, ranging widely in strength and accuracy. C) Embed any fragile areas of fossils in a clear epoxy to protect specimen integrity, and use white or gray epoxy to fill natural molds still preserved in the hard matrix. D) Prepare from the reverse side, using a series of specialized mechanical preparation tools. We will fully describe the methods, materials, and tools necessary. In particular, the special embedding technique (an epoxy-catalyst solution poured into a silicone cup around the exposed area of the specimen) will be explained, with its associated problems and solutions. Further applications of this protocol and recommendations for application to other instances of frangible specimens in various matrices will be discussed.
EFFECTIVE MICROPREPARATION WORKSTATION SETUP
—HERZOG, Lisa, The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA; SHINYA, Akiko, The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, USA
An array of tools and equipment are essential for micropreparation including microscope with light box, air scribes, grinding tools, various chemicals, foot pedals, manual tools, and compressed air supply. Setup and organization of equipment as well as maintaining a clear working surface is essential for effective micro-preparation. An adjustable microscope boom stand with ball bearings helps to easily focus on specimens of variable size and shape. In a well-equipped station, multiple air supplied tools can cause disorganization and clutter with tangled tubing and foot pedal supply lines. Air scribes and grinding tools can be connected with multiple hose couplings and kept off the workspace while not in use with spring clips mounted next to a microscope. Using a three-way gang valve mounted on the microscope arm to connect a dental drill, modular adjustable air hose, and pinvise helps to keep all three items ready to be used at any time. Clearly labeled consolidants and solvents are also kept at hand in uniform containers. Compressed air supply can be fitted with two pressure control valves: one set for air scribes requiring 100+ pounds per square inch (psi) pressure and another for dental drills and foot pedals set at a lower pressure.
STOCKING THE FISHBOWL: A PROGRAM TO TEACH NEW EXHIBIT LAB VOLUNTEERS THE BASICS IN FOSSIL PREPARATION, MOLDING, AND CASTING
—JABO, Steven, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA; BROWN, Matthew, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA; RESER, Peter, Paleo-Tech, Albuquerque, NM, USA; HOLLAND, Michael, Michael Holland Productions, Bozeman, MT, USA; SMITH, Matthew, Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA
During the fall and winter of 2008 the Smithsonian Institution, through a grant from the SI Women’s Committee, implemented a program to teach the basics of fossil preparation, molding, and casting to potential volunteers. The intent of the program was to establish a body of preparators to work in the National Museum of Natural History’s exhibit preparation lab, called FossiLab. To preserve the research and collections duties of the permanent staff in the behind-the-scenes Vertebrate Paleontology Prep Lab, four outside preparators were contracted to conduct the instruction; two instructors taught two five-day sessions on molding and casting, two other instructors taught two six-day sessions on preparation. The Department of Paleobiology’s curatorial staff instructed the groups in paleobotanical preparation and microfossil processing and picking. All instruction took place in FossiLab during public hours. The instructors were required to teach basic techniques, use the materials and equipment consistent with those found at NMNH, and conduct an evaluation of skills at the end, but were allowed to be fairly autonomous and teach to their strengths. Registration for the program was conducted via the department’s web page where a detailed description of the work and the lab familiarized prospective students with the type of work they would be performing. They were also asked a series of self-evaluative questions in an attempt to filter out those who might not have had the innate motor skills or temperament needed for the job. Those who were confident in their decision to volunteer were interviewed in FossiLab, and the majority of those then registered for the program. Twenty eight people, some new and some experienced, were trained. FossiLab is now staffed by as many as six volunteer preparators performing a variety of tasks for Paleobiology every weekday. Weekend days are starting as well. The number of weekly man-hours has more than tripled since the training. Continued, focused training on individual projects is carried on by the VP Lab staff. Eighteen hours of videotape was recorded during the training and is on course to be edited and available via DVD and online.
TRAINING AND EVALUATION OF VOLUNTEER FOSSIL PREPARATORS IN THE SMITHSONIAN FOSSILAB PROGRAM
—BROWN, Matthew, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA; SMITH, Matt , Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL, USA; JABO, Steven, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
A six-day course was developed to train volunteer fossil preparators in the basics of tecnique and materials as part of the Smithsonian Institution FossiLab Training Program, intended to staff the facility with competent workers. Program organizers wished to provide an intensive, hands-on training opportunity and provided course instructors with expectations for topics to be covered, as well as common methods and materials used in the institution. The instructors developed a curriculum for teaching fossil laboratory methods incorporating lecture, reading material, and hands-on guidance. Throughout the class, the instructors recorded their observations of student performance, and on the final day issued both written and practical examinations to the students. Students were also asked to complete a self-assessment, ranking their interest in the tasks that they were exposed to, in addition to ranking their perception of their abilities. The instructors produced written evaluations of each student, assigning letter grades for natural aptitude, grasp of theory, and level of interest; and made recommendations for possible duties in the laboratory or collections. Both organizers and instructors regard the outcome of this program as successful; for instance, laboratory managers still refer to the student evaluations when assigning preparation projects. This type of program establishes a common knowledge base among the volunteer pool, directs inquiry for future learning, reduces the learning curve for new volunteers, reduces staff time-expenditure for training, allows evaluation-based placement of volunteers, and provides all involved with a broader experience base. A formal program provides both the institution and community with consistency in methods and expectations, and is recommended for any laboratory or department charged with the care of fossils.
Poster Presentations
THE TECHNIQUE OF IMMERSION IN ACID AS APPLIED TO THE
PREPARATION OF A PLACODERM FISH FROM THE LOWER GIVETIAN
(DEVONIAN) OF LOSCOS (TERUEL, SPAIN)
—CARLS, Peter, University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; MOROS, Alfredo,
Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain; PERRUCA,
Rosana, Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain; LORENTE,
Javier, Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain; BARCO, José, Paleoymás, Zaragoza, Spain
What follows below is a description of the tasks involved in the paleontological preparation of the almost complete cranium of a placoderm fish from the Lower Devonian (Barreras Fm, Lower Givetian) of the eastern Iberian Range (Spain). The item in question is a cranium and thoracic plate, 1.35m long and 0.8m wide, belonging to a large-sized specimen. The fossil suffered little transport, so although the cranial plates have been slightly deformed by diagenesis, it is virtually complete. Following its extraction, during which it proved necessary to protect certain parts of the specimen from the sulphuric acid produced by the oxidation of pyrites, it was transferred to the laboratory, where mechanical preparation techniques were ruled out on account of the fragility of the fossil and estimates of the time they would have required. The clayey matrix with carbonated cement made it possible to use a technique that combined corrosion by dilute formic acid, the impregnation and protection of the fossil remains with cyanocrylate, and the mechanical removal of the clayey remnants. The removal of the matrix was carried out by immersing the pieces in dilute formic acid in large stainless-steel tubs. The great weight of the blocks, in conjunction with the fragility of the fossil remnant, made it necessary to install a system of cranes to hold it in place and ensure that it remained undamaged. It was also necessary to establish scrupulous safety measures for the preparators, since they were working with acids and heavy blocks. The steps followed in the preparation of the fossil remnant were the mechanical removal of the sterile remains; impregnation to strengthen bones and cracks; immersion in formic acid for between 1 and 3 days; rinsing to remove remains of acid; drying and repetition of the process. The advantages of this method reside mainly in the improved stability of the fossil remnant, as this is not subjected to vibrations; the improved finish of the pieces, making it possible to observe certain details more clearly; and the optimization of the effective work time of the preparator. Without any doubt, it is a safer, more efficient and more efficacious technique.
A COLLECTION OF MODELS OF MEXICAN LATE JURASSIC MARINE
REPTILES AT A 1:10 SCALE
—DE LA PAZ, Hector, Museo del Desierto, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico; BUCHY, Marie-
Céline, Museo del Desierto, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
Systematic investigation of Mexican Mesozoic marine reptiles began few years ago,
financially supported by the German Science Foundation and Consejo Estatal de Ciencia y
Tecnologia, and yielded rich assemblages for both the Late Jurassic and Late Cretaceous.
Many of these fossils are kept, prepared and studied at the Museo del Desierto, Saltillo,
Coahuila (Mude), a large museum devoted to the deserts of north-east Mexico, their fauna
and flora, geology, archaeology, ethnography, which includes areas for art exhibitions and
wild living animals rescued from unwanted encounters with humans. The Mude was born
from the stubborn vision of Lic. Magdalena Cardenas, who could convince political powers
and assemble necessary competencies in the provincial-looking city of Saltillo, capital of
Coahuila. The new Direction wished to mark the first decade of existence of the Mude by
exhibiting exceptional fossils from the region. Among those are undoubtedly the marine
reptiles that populated the Late Jurassic Mexican Gulf, encountered both in Nuevo León and
Coahuila. It was decided to produce a diorama at a 1:10 scale. This comprises models of
Ophthalmosaurus cf. icenicus adults (40 cm) and juveniles (7 cm), Dakosaurus sp. (40 cm),
Cricosaurus saltillense (25 cm), cf. Brachypterygius sp. (80 cm), an indeterminate pliosaur
representing 'The Monster of Aramberri' (150 cm) and a new cryptoclidid plesiosaur (30 cm).
The models were first sketched according to the fossil material and literature, and a
silhouette cut out in Styrofoam; this prototype was then coated with epoxy plastilin and
hand-finished, including details such as skin ornamentation, eyes and fins, painting and highgloss
varnish coating to suggest an aquatic atmosphere.
At Mude, the visitors view the paleontology laboratory through a window, where they can
ask questions and be answered. Some of the models were exhibited in this window, and
comments are unexpectedly gratifying, e.g. the ichthyosaurs are correctly depicted by the
kids as 'looking like dolphins but still different', and in general, the models help the public
connect the raw bones they see in preparation to real, living animals of the past.
THE SMITHSONIAN HUMAN ORIGINS INITIATIVE: RESEARCH, EXHIBITION,
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
—POTTS, Richard, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA; POBINER, Briana,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
Surveys by public media and scientific organizations (e.g., National Academy, NSF, AAAS)
alike indicate that just over 50% of the U.S. adult population understands or accepts
basic findings regarding human evolution, significantly lower than in similar samples of
Europeans (~70%). Data from a Smithsonian Institution study show that adult visitors to the
National Museum of Natural History understand and/or accept the basic tenets of evolution
(e.g., adaptation, cumulative change through time) at a rate of 85-95%, but with substantial
falloff to 60% when those tenets are applied to humans. To complement our ongoing
research program in human origins, and in an effort to advance public understanding
of human origins, a new, permanent exhibition will open in 2010 at the Smithsonian's
National Museum of Natural History. The exhibition's overall message is that the defining
qualities of Homo sapiens evolved over millions of years as early hominins adapted to
diverse and dynamic environments. Displays will present fossils and artifacts (originals,
casts, reproductions) from early hominin sites in Africa, Asia, and Europe that explain
the major milestones in hominin adaptation in their environmental context. Interactive
displays will encourage learning about how paleoanthropological evidence relates to
research interpretations and dynamic aspects of evolutionary change. The exhibit will also
highlight critical contributions from genetics and primate studies. The Smithsonian will
simultaneously launch a human evolution education initiative that will rely on a network
of scientists, educators, and organizations. This poster enables the scholarly community to
examine our scientific treatments, methods of public outreach, and challenges of presenting
human evolution on the U.S. National Mall.
TEMPORARY GAP-FILLING TO STABILIZE AN EXPLODED MATRIX FOR
FOSSIL PREPARATION: THE SAND AND BUTVAR B-76 TECHNIQUE
—DAVIDSON, Amy, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
Fossil preparators are often faced with the difficult task of extracting small, delicate elements
from sediments that have cracked, expanded and exploded the bone. Open cracks allow
the matrix to dislodge and break unpredictably in response to the pressure of the airscribe
or needle, and this can damage the bone within. The sand and Butvar B-76 technique was
developed to address this problem in a block from Ghost Ranch (New Mexico) containing a
dense assemblage of small, partially articulated dinsoaur skeletons. The matrix is a mudstone
with copious inclusions of fish fragments, concretions, charcoal and other material. The
bone is dense and hard but fractured and very thin in places. Cracks throughout the matrix
and bone have expanded so that the fragments are separated by gaps. Before preparation it
was necessary to stabilize the surface by packing a rigid, gap-filling material into all visible
cracks. This material had to be strong enough to resist the force of an airscribe or needle
but be easily removable and re-workable. I used a mix of clean children’s playbox sand and
smaller-grained black aquarium sand. The mixed grain sizes were for tighter packing and
the mixed color was aesthetic. The sand was mixed with Butvar B-76 (polyvinyl butyral)
in ethanol to form a cement that was pressed into the cracks and allowed to dry overnight.
Butvar B-76 is a weak adhesive and is easily removable with a needle or airscribe, is readily
soluble in ethanol that has a relatively low toxicity, and it has acceptable aging properties if
any remains after preparation. After filling the gaps on the surface the matrix could gradually
be removed in a controlled manner, from the top down. The sand and Butvar B-76 mix was
applied, removed and re-applied to cracks and gaps in stages as they were revealed. This
technique was successful for the preparation of this block and would probably be appropriate
and effective for a variety of matrices.
ARMATURE DAMAGE IN A MOUNTED SPECIMEN
—EVANDER, Robert, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
AMNH 11262 is a skeleton of the glyptodont Hoplophorus ornatus. This skeleton was
mounted, without the carapace, by Adam Hermann in 1918. Although we have a published
account of Hermann's mounting technique, it is necessary to reverse engineer the mount in
order to understand the condition of the specimen. The mounting process began with the
development of internal supports that link the bones of each limb. These internal supports
are mostly wires plastered into holes drilled into the articular surfaces between bones. These
wire and bone limbs were then stiffened by the addition of plaster to all the joint spaces.
A quadrupedal external armature was shaped and attached to a wooden base. Finally, the
limbs were attached to the armature using another set of holes drilled through the bones.
Importantly, the mounting of this specimen involved generous numbers of drill holes
perforating poorly-mineralized bones. A detailed damage report on this specimen reveals
some of the resulting problems. Many digits of the feet demonstrate bone breakage away
from the wires that run down the axes of the digits. The right ilium displays a wide break
that follows the armature in both directions from a screw hole. A break in the third cervical
bone passes through a screw hole. The break in the right tibia is maintained at an offset of
10 mm by the armature. A break in the left femur cannot be reduced because of armature
offset. The left femur also has a conchoidal fracture placed directly over the bend in bolt
that passes through the neck of the femur. A screw head on the left ischium is surrounded by
radiating cracks. In sum, this damage report demonstrates an unhappy association between
damaged bones and adjacent portions of the armature. A hypothesis of armature damage
is the most reasonable explanation for most of the damage that is present in this specimen.
Multiple repairs to some of these breaks suggest that this problem is of long standing. The
mounting process significantly destabilized this specimen. The armature has caused, and will
undoubtedly continue to cause, the deterioration of the bones of this skeleton.
METHODS OF PALEONTOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION
—CONWAY, John, Open University, London, United Kingdom
The field of paleontological reconstruction is an old one, probably as old as paleontology
itself, yet the literature on the life appearance of extinct animals is rather limited. The
information required for accurate paleontological reconstructions is often limited to byproducts
of science concerned with other areas, such as biomechanics or phylogenetics.
There has been little discussion of how the problems related to the field differ from the
concerns of mainstream paleontology, or how those differences might be addressed in a
systematic way. Previous discussions on the problems of reconstructing the life appearance
of extinct animals have tended to focus on the dynamics of scientist/artist collaboration,
or been relatively straightforward treatises of comparative anatomy. However the field has
moved on, with new methodology and lines of evidence being pursued- some of which are
somewhat distinct from the concerns of mainstream paleontology. Here I will discuss the
methods currently in use by paleontological artists and illustrators, in an effort to clarify
these methods for critical evaluation, as well as suggest areas of research that are currently
under-explored. These methods differ in focus from mainstream paleontology, but are
of great concern to artists and illustrators. Some, such as the application of phylogenetic
bracketing, are becoming reasonably well established; others, such as animal pattern and
coloration, remain unsystematic. Finally, I will discuss the current aims of paleontological
reconstruction in it's differing contexts, whether that be to communicate, educate, or inspire,
and ask whether we should attempt to measure the impact of our work.
BRINGING BLM RESOURCE USE PERMITTING, RESEARCH, AND
MANAGEMENT TOGETHER: DEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED
PALEONTOLOGICAL DATABASE SYSTEM
—KUIZON, Lucia, Bureau of Land Management, Washington, DC, USA; MATTHEWS,
Neffra, Bureau of Land Management, Lakewood, CO, USA
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is charged with managing nearly 260 million
acres of America's public lands. These lands comprise 13 percent of the total land surface
of the United States (or more than 40% of all land managed by the Federal government)
that includes a vast and unique array of paleontological resources. While BLM has managed
these resources through agency policy and guidance for a number of years, the newly enacted
Paleontological Resources Preservation Act provides legal authority for preserving and
protecting all aspects of these resources. Historically, records relating to permits, localities,
and research (collected specimens) were maintained in hardcopy by the respective state in
which they were collected. With the support of initiatives such as BLM's Geospatial Services
Strategic Plan, development of a relational database management framework is now underway
to convert these paleontological records. This integrated system will provide managers,
resource specialists, analysts, researchers, and policy makers access to multiple levels of
this data from a single location, thereby greatly increasing availability of records, accuracy,
and completeness. Development of this integrated paleontology database systems has been
conducted in consultation with a parallel database system in development by the U.S. Forest
Service, and with review of data standards in USGS, NPS, and other Federal systems. A webbased
system is planned for final implementation, and will support online permit application
and reporting. The needs of BLM's paleontology leads and field office personnel, as well as
those of the external users (permittees), who will have a high level of interaction with the
system, are of principal consideration. Also of paramount importance is security for protecting
paleontological locality information as required by the Act, as well as any intellectual property
contained in the system. Transforming current practices by transferring data and information
now maintained in hardcopy into electronic and automated formats that are readily available
will greatly improve and streamline outdated business practices.