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Finding Fossils:
Consistently locating fossils requires special knowledge of geology and paleontology -- and a bit of luck! But bringing home the find may present the biggest challenge to researchers. Fossils usually lie in remote areas far from museums, universities, and roads. Their large size makes them particularly heavy, and the fragility brought on by their great age requires that they be handled with extreme care.
Researchers frequently discover fossils by finding a fragment of bone protruding from a cliff or bank. After removing the covering earth -- first with picks and shovels, and then more carefully with dental tools and brushes -- scientists may harden the fossil bones with a chemical solution. A complete covering of burlap and plaster bandages protects the fossil from damage during shipment to the laboratory.
Detailed drawings, photographs, and documentation accompany each step of the operation to help reconstruct the fossil for study and exhibition. |