Fossilguy Articles:
Recent Calvert Cliff articulated porpoise skeleton quarried
Images during the prep. at the CMM.
Images by Paul Murdoch Jr. and Jayson Kowinsky
(Please be patient, the images are large and may take a minute to load. Hit reload if some images do not load).
11/05/01 - This is the skull jacket in its initial stages of preperation. Notice how beautifully preserved the lower jaw is. The second jacket will be prepped after this one is finished.
11/09/01 - Here you can see the a complete rib exposed against the snout. Also, the upper mandible is begging to be uncovered (the skull is upside down).
11/24/01 - Besides being a mug shot for Paul, this image shows the upper mandable once it became completely exposed. Notice how long it is; hence the name "long-snouted dolphin."
11/24/01 - This is a closer view of the exposed mandables.
12/30/01 - Once the mandables have been completed, work begins on the rest of the skull and the misc bones strewn about in the jacket.
1/06/02 - This is a close up of the upside down skull about to be prepped.
1/22/02 - The preperation is comming along nicely! Notice all of the vertebrae and ribs strewn about. I can't wait to see what's in the second jacket.
2/3/02 - This side of the jacket looks about ready! The little bone on the cardboard is a juggal bone. They are very fragile, and are usually not found. Notice the natural crack disrupts the fossil. At least crack did not go straight through the skull!
After this side is prepped, it will be flipped, then the second jacket can be worked on.
Be sure to stop back to watch the ongoing preperation! Or, visit the CMM to view the preperation process live!
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