[Nhcoll-l] Cetacean skeleton issues

[Simon Moore]

Hi Vanessa,

Apart from the nails (!), the brown issues look very much like oxidised lipid problems. I’m hoping that there may be some updated technology from other advisers as I’m sure that that the defatting of cetacean bones will have moved on from when this was done during my earlier years at the NHM, London, where user-unfriendly solvents such as dimethyl chloride were used in a reflux condenser to remove as much of the residual lipid as possible without causing the bones to become slightly embrittled.  

I noted that the bones have already started to deteriorate due to acidity and these may require some post-treatment consolidation, especially if they are load-bearing.

With all good wishes, Simon 

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian.

www.natural-history-conservation.com


> On 15 Dec 2025, at 11:29, Vanessa Pitusi <vanessa.pitusi at uit.no> wrote:
> 
> Dear all,
>  I have been going through our cetacean skeletons and have noticed some issues (see photos).
>  Any advice on how to treat such conditions and how long that would take?
>  Kind regards,
> Vanessa
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