Preparing a Fossil Whale Specimen

Paleobiologist Mark D. Uhen drills away rock to reveal the fossilized bones of Peruvian archaeocetes (ancient whales), in the Vertebrate Paleontology Department at the Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos. Uhen is a professor at George Mason University and one of the co-authors of a paper about South America's oldest known whales. See a rendering of what these whales may have looked like swimming off Peru's coast. 

<p>Paleobiologist Mark D. Uhen drills away rock to reveal the <strong><a href="http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-photos/bones-and-teeth-south-americas-oldest-fossil-whales">fossilized bones</a></strong> of Peruvian archaeocetes (ancient whales), in&nbsp;the Vertebrate Paleontology Department at the <strong><a href="http://museohn.unmsm.edu.pe/">Museo de Historia Natural de San Marcos</a></strong>. Uhen is a professor at George Mason University and one of the co-authors of&nbsp;<strong><a href="http://ocean.si.edu/blog/new-archaeocetes-peru-are-oldest-fossil-whales-south-america">a paper about South America's oldest known whales</a></strong>. See a rendering of what these whales may have looked like <strong><a href="http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-photos/eocene-whales-and-penguins-coast-peru">swimming off Peru's coast</a></strong>.&nbsp;</p>
Nicholas D. Pyenson / Smithsonian Institution

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