[Nhcoll-l] FW: Advice on conserving mammoth bones

[Jude.Southward at dmns.org]

Hi Tiffany - the Denver Museum of Nature & Science just finished a two season excavation of a waterlogged (and oh so muddy) mammoth site that produced 5,500 bones of mammoths, mastodons, sloths, deer, bear, etc., as well as pine cones, leaves, and logs. The first season was in 'salvage' mode and we learned lots; the second season was infinitely more planned.  I have information on packaging, drying procedures/times, drying vulnerability of different bones, RH monitoring, mold, cleaning procedures & tools, choices of water, water analysis, documentation/photo-documentation, labels, plaster jackets, adhesives/consolidants used, supplies, other associated scientists, DNA, etc.

Most of the specimens made it through the cleaning and drying cycles just fine and DMNS would be happy to share the information. Perhaps at this point, it would be best to chat off-line with you, or whomever is closest to the excavation processing, to pinpoint the information you need.

My number is 303.370.6496.

Best,
Jude Southward


JUDE SOUTHWARD
Conservator & Museum Conservation Dept. Chair







[cid:image001.jpg at 01CDF569.E90EE0D0]<http://www.dmns.org/>

jude.southward at dmns.org
W  303.370.6496
F   303.331.6313

Join the Museum's Online Community<http://community.dmns.org/content/OnlineCommunity.aspx>

www.dmns.org


Return to the Ice Age and roam with some of Earth's most breathtaking creatures in Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age from February 15 through May 27, 2013. Learn more at www.dmns.org/mammoths.


From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Adrain, Tiffany S
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2013 2:50 PM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Advice on conserving mammoth bones

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for some advice on conserving waterlogged mammoth bones as they are excavated. Our university museum is involved in the excavation of at least two mammoths and the bones and tusks are being brought to their lab for safe-keeping, but they don't have a preparator or conservator experienced in dealing with this material. The only advice I have been able to give is to keep the material damp, in plaster jackets where applicable, covered by damp towels to make sure it doesn't dry out and fall apart.

I'd be very interested to hear from anyone with experience of conserving and preparing mammoth bones from a muddy excavation site.

Thanks,

Tiffany

Tiffany Adrain
Collections Manager, Paleontology Repository
Instructor, Museum Studies
Department of Geoscience
The University of Iowa
121 Trowbridge Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242

phone: 319 335 1822
fax: 319 335 1821
website: http://geoscience.clas.uiowa.edu/paleo/


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