Preserving both the tangible and intangible: manakitanga of six moa footprints
Shannah Rhynard-Geil and Kane Fleury

In 2018, Tūhura Otago Museum received a request regarding a track of seven footprints found in clay in the Maniototo Conglomerate Formation in the Kyeburn River, Central Otago, New Zealand. The tracks were dated to at least 3.57 Ma (+1.62/-1.18Ma); the second earliest fossil record of moa and the first known discovery of moa footprints in the South Island of New Zealand. Due to their significance, the riverbed’s soft nature, and previous destructive flooding, a decision was made to excavate the footprints for further research and preservation. The excavation involved scientists and local Māori from Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki who have an interest generally in te taiao (the natural world) within their rohe (tribal area) and historically. Footprints would have been an important tohu (sign) to their ancestors who would have used the footprints of moa prior to their extinction to track these giant birds. Traditionally, moa were an important resource and despite their extinction 600 years ago, have remained culturally important. With limited precedent, creating a mindful and sensitive conservation treatment with high publicity was a challenge. This paper discusses both treatment considerations and cultural ethics. Are the footprints natural science fossils, or are they cultural objects? What materials were best suited for treatment and storage? What story are we emphasizing? Was it just the footprints which are inherently important, or are the entirety of the excavated blocks, even the cutmarks, part of a story worth protecting? And the most challenging: who, if anyone, takes stewardship of them? Answers are found through theory, communication, and the respect of different perspectives.

Challenges of The Upside-Down: Conserving and remounting a huge Temnodontosaurus skull found by 14-year-old Mary Anning.

 Larkin, N.R., Dey, S., Lomax, D. R. and Hutchinson, D.

A large ichthyosaur skull found at Lyme Regis, Dorset, in 1813 by 14-year-old Mary Anning has been in the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery collection since 1844. The Temnodontosaurus specimen has had deep cracks since its discovery and records show that the lower half has been encased in deep mortar within a wooden frame since at least the 1930s. For the new permanent exhibition that opened in January 2024 ('Making Waves - Mary Anning and her astonishing ichthyosaur') the specimen was carefully removed from the old frame, cleaned, conserved and mounted. This necessitated turning it upside-down temporarily so that a new permanent mount could be made. Yet this historically significant specimen was heavily cracked and weighed a third of a ton. This presented some challenges. The specimen was 3D scanned before work started and scanned again when work was complete. The detailed digital 3D model of the first scan provides a historical record of the specimen as it was before work commenced. The scan of the cleaned and conserved specimen – without any mount etc in the way – provides a complete record of the specimen. This can be used for research and provides a benchmark for the condition of the specimen against which its condition can be assessed in the future. Significantly, several large unhealed toothmarks on both sides of the skull had been hidden by the mortar for all these years. These provide strong evidence of the large ichthyosaur being attacked (and possibly killed) by another large marine reptile. 

The Sundurbans Crocodile

Md. Ibrahimul Bari (Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar), Dino Chu (University of Birmingham) and Tamzid Farhad (University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh).

The Sundarbans, a UNESCO world heritage site spanning Bangladesh and India, boasts a rich array of flora and fauna within its unique mangrove ecosystem. Holocene sea-level fluctuations have preserved diverse vertebrate remains in the Bengal basin's peat deposits. Despite the typically acidic peaty soils that dissolve calcium phosphates in bones, the relatively young age of these remains has minimized diagenetic effects. In 2022, a local report detailed the discovery of a crocodile remains from late Holocene (equivalent to Meghalayan age) peaty soil in Satkhira district, which caught our attention. Consequently, our team from the "Bangladesh Academy of Geological Sciences" was dispatched to collect and preserve the specimen. The bones were carefully rolled in toilet paper and transported to our temporary lab, where they were air-dried, cleaned with acetone, and coated with polyvinyl acetate resin adhesive. Bones with microfractures received an additional layer of water-diluted adhesive in a 1:1 ratio. Vertebrate fossil preparation is a novel practice in Bangladesh, with only rudimentary facilities available. Our meticulous approach convinced the National Museum of Bangladesh to accession their first palaeontological specimens from us and greatly appreciated our efforts. This donation signifies the commencement of a new era in specimen acquisition, conservation, and research within Bangladesh. Additionally, it encourages public interest in exploring the Sundarbans' ancient heritage. The success of this project highlights the potential for future investments in palaeontological research and conservation, fostering a deeper understanding of Sundarban's ancient heritage.

A rough reconstruction of the skeleton to demonstrate the local villagers, the structure of a crocodile body and the size compared to human who is 168 cm. 

Ammonite Amateurs: what happens when you do paleontological conservation without a paleontologist

Hannah Villines and Nina Owczarek, Iron Hill Science Centre, Delaware

In 2018, the Iron Hill Science Center in Newark, Delaware sent one of their ammonite fossils to the University of Delaware for conservation treatment. The Science Center has limited staff, none of whom are conservators or paleontologists. This treatment was to be used as experiential training for students in the undergraduate Art Conservation program. Over the course of four years, five students supervised by two different professors treated the fossil. This presentation will examine the stages of that work including addressing previous treatment, removal of matrix, stabilization of remaining material, fill creation, and visual integration efforts. Throughout the presentation, there will also be a focus on how this approach compares to a more traditional paleontological preparation, including post-treatment reflections and input from practicing paleontologists. Large, paleontology focused collections often have the benefit of ample material and purpose-based resources to complete conservation work. Looking at how smaller institutions such as the Iron Hill Science Center achieved their goals for the specimen via a student lab without paleontological supplies will be a window into some of the common problems that people run into when doing paleontology prep and conservation, and how people with relatively little background on the subject approached problem solving. What approaches could have been considered but weren’t? How did having a procession of student workers affect the treatment? This is a case study of applying other conservation principles to a paleontological object and of learning the process of prep through trial and error.

Pliosaurus - The Discovery of a Monster

Steve Etches and Chris Moore 

This film takes an in-depth look at the story behind the only World Record Winning pliosaur skull. Learn about the truly spectacular Sea Rex and how it was initially discovered, excavated, prepared and restored by Dr Steve Etches and his determined team. Hear from key members of the team including Philip Jacobs, Tim Fogg, Steve Etches and Rob Vearncombe as they describe their involvement, experiences and how intricate parts of this story happened. Presented by Emma Cieslak-Jones, this film gives new insight into this incredible and awe-inspiring adventure while telling the impressive story linearly from initial discovery through to displaying our greatest exhibit. 

Combining mechanical, chemical and virtual preparation techniques: a case study on Cretaceous shark teeth

Kieran Miles, The Natural History Museum, London

Fossil preparation is generally divided into mechanical (using handheld tools) and chemical (e.g., using acids) techniques; increasingly, virtual techniques can also be employed, such as using CT scanning to create an image of fossil material within the matrix. Although it could be argued that virtual preparation can replace the need for physical preparation, at present such cases are rare. Far from being mutually exclusive, physical, chemical and virtual techniques can be combined to great success, with digital imagery being used as a guide to how best to undertake the physical preparation. As an example, micropreparation of Cretaceous shark teeth was recently carried out at the Natural History Museum, London. The researcher first CT scanned the specimens, small shark skulls in chalk, revealing tiny (<1cm) loose teeth within the matrix that if removed could be used to aid taxonomic studies. Using the CT scans to pinpoint the location, the preparator used a pin vice to carefully cut out a cube of matrix. The chalk cube was then transferred to dilute (2%) acetic acid. Once the tooth was free, it was placed on a slide and photographed with a microscope camera. The successful preparation could not have been possible without the combined application of virtual, physical and chemical techniques - and the communication between preparator, researcher and curator.

An Overview of Asphaltic Fossil Preparation and Conservation at La Brea Tar Pits
Potze, S., Clarke, C.A. & Morley, S. L., La Brea Tar Pits Museum, 
Rancho La Brea (RLB) located in California, is the world's richest terrestrial Pleistocene fossil locality, renowned for its abundance of specimens and excellent preservation resulting from asphalt taphonomy. Fewer than 15 fossiliferous asphaltic deposits are known globally, which makes the preparation of such paleontological specimens highly specialized. The RLB Fossil Lab is the only technical facility in the world skilled in the large-scale preparation and conservation of asphaltic fossils. RLB has been engaged in active research focused on improving asphaltic preparation and conservation techniques. Our current preparation protocol requires careful application of a degreasing solvent, Novec 73DE, to adhering matrix, thereby softening the asphalt and loosening the sediment for easy mechanical separation from the specimens. The liberated matrix is later sorted to separate diverse biological specimens, measuring ~ 1cm-1mm in size, from the geological material with the use of a microscope. Conservation of fragile material plays an important role in the preservation of these fossils both in the initial exhumation of the specimen from the enclosing matrix, as well as historic specimens requiring remedial action. Paraloid B-72 mixed with acetone is the currently preferred adhesive, with Kozo paper and acrylic films applied in the restoration of fossils that have no secure connection points. The Fossil Lab is a publicly-viewable exhibition supported by an extensive volunteer cohort; ＞40 people in 2024. Volunteers undergo hands-on training in all aspects of preparation, conservation and microfossil sorting and are provided access to a training manual that accompanies the physical training, further enhancing their skills development.

Bad bling: jewellery made of unsuitable geological materials, and what to do about it

Lu Allington-Jones and Robin Hansen, The Natural History Museum, London

Most gemstones are chosen for their hardness and stability as well as their beauty, but a surprising number happen to be rather inadvisable choices. Some are toxic or can produce corrosive liquids, others will change colour when exposed to light or deteriorate if not stored at specific relative humidity or without oxygen. This poster explores some examples of jewellery made of difficult materials (such as opal and meteoric iron), less robust materials (such as sulphur and amber), and frankly bonkers materials (such as pyrite and halite). Causes of deterioration as well as advice on storage and treatment are presented.

Preparing the lower jaw of a rhomaleosaurid plesiosaur from Lavernock, South Wales

Richard Forrest

The lower jaw of a rhomaleosaurid plesiosaur was discovered in the lowermost Lias  at Lavernock by Matthew Myerscough in 2022 and brought to the attention of Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales). Permission was obtained from Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru (Natural Resouces Wales) and the specimen was recovered shortly after its discovery. Although incomplete and poorly preserved, the specimen was  considered significant enough to warrant careful preparation as it sheds light on the evolutionary history of plesiosaurs in general and Rhomalesaurs in particular. The preparation presents a number of problems. Parts of the jaw had already been eroded out by the ferocious  tidal flow at Lavernock, leaving a partial mould in the matrix. Other very friable parts of the bone disintegrated when rinsed to remove salt. The extent of preserved bone was initially unclear but proved to be extensive  and three dimensional . Preparation has been slow as bone needs to be consolidated as soon as it is exposed to prevent fragmenting.  When possible lost sections were moulded in Jesmonite. The matrix around the bone is packed with crinoid fragments, which is unusual for fossils from the Lias.  This, and the preservation of the bone,  highlights the unusual taphonomic history of the specimen which is  unlike that of other Liassic fossils.

Excavations at Cerney Wick

Richard Forrest * ¹ Sally Hollingworth ² Neville Hollingworth ³

1 - plesiosaur.com, 2 - Hills Quarry Products Ltd, 3 - Science and Technology Facilities Council

The excavations at Cerney Wick have been carried out over several years, and have been the subject of a lot of media attention. This year has been exceptionally successful both in terms of adding to the experience of many students and volunteers, and the potential for a number of research projects based on the findings from the site. The excavation ended at the beginning of August, so this is a preliminary account of the outcome and the future potential for this extraordinary locality.