Question 1

How do you say Preparation?

Accepted Answer

Preparation is pronounced prep-ah-RAY-shun. The stress falls on the third syllable, RAY, which you say the loudest and longest. Break it down like this: PREP, then ah, then RAY, then shun. Say it a few times fast and it will stick: prep-ah-RAY-shun.

Question 2

What does Preparation mean in paleontology?

Accepted Answer

In paleontology, preparation means the process of carefully removing the rock surrounding a fossil to reveal the bones or other remains inside. Fossils come out of the ground embedded in rock called matrix, and that matrix has to be removed before scientists can study them. The people who do this work are called fossil preparators, and it can take months or even years to prepare a single large skeleton.

Question 3

How long does it take to prepare a dinosaur fossil?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on the size and complexity of the fossil. A small dinosaur tooth might only need a few hours of work, while a complete large skeleton can take tens of thousands of hours spread over many years. The preparation of Sue the T. rex, one of the most complete T. rex skeletons ever found, took an estimated 30,000 hours of work by a team of skilled preparators.

Question 4

What tools do fossil preparators use?

Accepted Answer

Fossil preparators use a wide range of tools depending on how close they are to the bone. For large chunks of rock far from the fossil, they use pneumatic chisels and air hammers. For delicate work right next to the bone, they switch to air scribes with tiny tips, dental picks, and fine brushes. Some labs also use dilute acids to dissolve limestone matrix chemically, and modern labs use CT scanners to plan their work before touching the specimen.

Question 5

Can fossils be damaged during preparation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, fossils can absolutely be damaged during preparation, and even experienced preparators sometimes make mistakes. A slip of a tool can scratch bone, and over-aggressive removal of matrix can destroy delicate surface details that might hold important scientific information. This is why preparation is treated with enormous seriousness, and modern labs use CT scanning and careful planning before beginning work on especially valuable or fragile specimens.

Question 6

What is a fossil preparator?

Accepted Answer

A fossil preparator is a specialist who cleans and exposes fossils for scientific study and display. They work in museum labs, university departments, and commercial fossil companies. The job requires deep knowledge of bone anatomy, geology, and chemistry, as well as extreme patience and steady hands. Many preparators train for years as apprentices before working on major specimens, and some become as famous in paleontology circles as the scientists who describe the fossils.

Question 7

Do preparators work on all kinds of fossils or just dinosaurs?

Accepted Answer

Fossil preparators work on all kinds of fossils, not just dinosaurs. They prepare fish, marine reptiles, early mammals, invertebrates, plant fossils, and even microscopic specimens. The techniques vary depending on the type of fossil and the rock it is embedded in. Some preparators specialize in particular types of specimens, such as fish or early human ancestors, and develop highly specific skills for those materials.

Question 8

What chemicals are used in fossil preparation?

Accepted Answer

Several chemicals are used in fossil preparation labs. Dilute acetic acid, the same acid found in vinegar but much stronger, is used to dissolve limestone matrix from fossils made of calcium phosphate. Paraloid B-72 and Vinac B-15 are consolidants, chemicals that soak into fragile bone and harden it so it does not crumble during preparation. These consolidants are also widely used in art conservation to preserve paintings and artifacts.

Question 9

Can you do fossil preparation with a computer instead of real tools?

Accepted Answer

Yes, virtual preparation using CT scan data and 3D software is now a real and important technique. Scientists can digitally remove the matrix from a fossil on a computer screen without ever touching the actual specimen. This is especially useful for fossils that are too fragile to physically prepare, like dinosaur embryos still inside eggs. A team at the University of Texas at Austin used this method in 2011 to study a dinosaur embryo in incredible detail without cracking the egg open.

Question 10

How did people prepare fossils before modern tools existed?

Accepted Answer

Before modern tools, early fossil collectors used basic hammers, chisels, and hand picks to free specimens from rock. The work was much rougher than today, and many important details were lost or damaged in early preparations. Mary Anning in the 1820s used simple iron tools to extract ichthyosaurs from the cliffs of Lyme Regis, and American collectors in the 1870s and 1880s were often racing so fast to collect bones that preparation was hasty and incomplete. Modern preparation is far more careful and scientifically precise.

Question 11

Why is fossil preparation considered a science and not just cleaning?

Accepted Answer

Fossil preparation is considered a science because the decisions preparators make directly affect what scientists can learn from a specimen. A preparator must understand bone anatomy to know what they are looking at, understand geology to know how the rock formed around the fossil, and understand chemistry to choose the right consolidants and acids. The information revealed during preparation, such as muscle attachment scars, air sac openings, and growth lines in bone, can completely change scientific theories about how a dinosaur lived and moved.

Question 12

Where can I see fossil preparation happening in real life?

Accepted Answer

Many major natural history museums have glass-walled preparation labs where visitors can watch preparators at work. The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C., the Field Museum in Chicago, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the Natural History Museum in London all have preparation facilities that are sometimes open to public view. Visiting one is one of the most exciting behind-the-scenes experiences a dinosaur fan can have.

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