The consequences of methods of fossil preparation on the preservation and future research suitability of fossil remains
Date
2019
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
This dissertation explores the consequences of three fossil preparation methods on fossilized bone. Mechanical and acid preparation have been the most common methods for preparing fossil bones since the nineteenth century. Both techniques have been very successful and have shaped how fossils are studied. The consequences of their use have been analyzed only after issues have occurred, prompting changes in the methodologies. When preparing fossils, preparators have always developed their own innovative approaches, sometimes using practices from other disciplines like conservation. In this dissertation I test three cleaning methodologies to determine whether they produce any damage on fossil bones, and to contribute to the understanding of fossil preparation as a discipline. ☐ Eighteen small, unidentified bone fragments from the Cloverly Formation, Wyoming, were used as samples. They were cleaned mechanically, with acetic acid, and with a Nd:YAG 1064 nm laser, and analyzed both visually and with analytical instrumentation: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), SEM with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy capabilities (SEM-EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). ☐ In this work, I show that fossil preparation can be a damaging agent that affects the long-term stability and research suitability of fossil remains if the personnel working with the remains is not well trained. Professional preparators are key members of the paleontology community; they are decision makers that can aid in the research of vertebrate paleontology, and their profession should be highly regarded. I hope my work can provide preparators with the tools necessary to make good decisions when choosing preparation techniques, as well as a justification for the value of fossil preparation as a discipline.
Description
Keywords
Conservation, Fossilized bone, Fossil preparation, Professional preparators, Preservation