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III. Dismantling
the Skull
Preparators
Amy Henrici, Norm Wuerthele, and Yvonne Wilson separated the
fossilized bones of T. rex's skull from the plaster
reconstruction. First, the plaster portions of the skull
were cut into several, more manageable pieces. Preparators
then worked on each piece individually, carefully cleaning
away plaster to
expose
the bones themselves. Each fossilized bone was meticulously
inspected and repaired if any damage was found.
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Was
T. rex framed?
The first step in working on the skull involved removing
the metal framework from the upper jaw. Preparator Norm
Wuerthele removed the bolts fastening the metal brace to
the skull. While this step proved relatively straightforward,
preparators were not certain if additional metal braces
had
also been placed inside the plaster. To answer
this question, they used magnets to identify metal supports
concealed inside the plaster, and marked their location. The
preparators were then able to cut around the frame when they
divided the skull into sections. |
removing
the metal supports |
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applying
special hardener |
A
Sticky Situation
An important part of the conservation process involves repairing
tiny cracks in the fossilized bones with a special glue. Low-viscosity
glue known as a penetrant stabilizer seeps
into the smallest cracks. It is very strong
and resistant to many types of solvents. |
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Tools
of the Trade
Preparators make use of a variety of specialized tools
in their work on the T. rex skull and other fossils:
Medical
Cast Cutter: This electric circular
saw is identical to those used by medical doctors
to remove
plaster
casts from patients. In this case, it was
used to cut the plaster portions of T. rex's
skull into smaller sections.
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Air
Scribe: Resembling a miniature jackhammer, this
tool runs on
a pressurized airline. It is used to scrape
away plaster and other material.
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Carbide
Tip in a Pin Vise: This is a more
delicate scraping tool. A vise in the handle holds
a hardened
carbide tip that is more durable than steel. When
they wear out, the carbide tips can be replaced.
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Dental
Picks: These picks are used
for intricate scraping work.
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Brushes: The preparators' toolkit includes brushes with
bristles ranging from very stiff (wire brushes) to
very soft (toothbrushes).
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Next page:
Reconstructing the Skull
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