Storage of Dinosaur Bones

[Troodon]

We often talk about how best to store fossil bones, here is what Matthew Brown does in collections  at the University of Texas at Austin, posted on Twitter.  Nice technique and can be applied to any bone or group of bones.

 

Storage of a Dilophosaurus articulated leg that was shown in Nat Geo article.

 

He made a cavity mount for a storage cabinet

 

Brown "I cut a 2” plank of ethafoam to fit the drawer. You can do this in a small box for one bone, or fill a shelf. I traced the bones with a pen and cut them out with a hacksaw blade, test fit the bones, and pushed the cut-out piece to depth and cut the excess flush from the back."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brown "Once the cavities are cut, the next step is to line them with Tyvek. I cut the Tyvek larger than I need and crinkle it up to soften it. Using a scalpel, I cut a slit all around the bones about 1 cm away from the edge of the cavity. Always size the Tyvek bigger than you need it."

 

Brown "I use a sculpting tool to tuck the excess Tyvek into the slit (about 2-3cm deep), moving along the perimeter until the Tyvek is neatly tucked. Using scissors, excess material can be trimmed away to make the tuck neater."

 

 

 

Brown "Work your way around each bone until you’re done! I like the way this method maintains association of the elements without having them in physical contact, supports bones that arch, and protects the specimens against reckless drawer-yankers who might be visiting your collection"

[Troodon]

Other museums using a similar technique

 

Cass Morrison posted this Baryonyx claw,

Finger cavities added to aid in removal.

 

 

And then there is this one of Moros intrepidus a Tyrannosauroid from Utah

Posted by Josh Hedge, NC museum of Natural Science

[Artorias]

thank you!

[Randyw]

That's a great idea!

[FranzBernhard]

I would like to say, that looks professionell, ehm, that is professionell! Thanks for sharing!
Franz Bernhard

[Welsh Wizard]

Very similar to how I store mine. 
 

@Troodon. Thank you for the information.