Preparation along the sides and into the openings continues as I move from one side to the other.

Rock almost completely removed from this side.

Continued preparation on the other side of skull.

I have now removed the foam around the front left side of the skull and am beginning to remove matrix within the openings.

Foam and foil removed from front side.

Rock being removed from openings along side of skull.

We have set up the Samson rotissere. We are hoping that this machine will facilitate the rotation of Samson's skull for final preparation and molding.

Samson rotated for prep to begin on the side.

Preparation can proceed now that the foam has been cut away from the side of the skull.

Dan and I are finally nearing the end of restoring the palate and braincase. Once we finish restoring the palate, I will rotate Samson onto one side and remove the remaining matrix or rock from the nose area and the openings just in front of the eyes. The rotation will take place using an invention designed by Brian Reneski. It will look like a giant rotisserie. You can see most of the elements that will make up this rotation device lying around the skull.

The finished palate and braincase areas of Samson's skull.

Equipment to be used for the rotation of Samson lying around the skull.

It will probably take us a couple of weeks to fill in all the holes, fractures, and fine cracks within the palate and braincase area with epoxy-resin. Once this restoration is complete, Samson will look much better and the skull will be much more consolidated. Here are a couple of images after restoration.

The back of Samson's skull showing all the areas that had to be filled in and consolidated.

A section on the roof of the mouth that has been restored with all the cracks and fractures filled in with epoxy-resin.