slideshow

A Squalodontid Success

On a beach in Piña, Panama the tide is rolling out. Faint outlines of skeletal remains rise above the sand. Smithsonian scientists Nicholas Pyenson and Aaron O'Dea along with a team of students descend upon the beach. Their mission: to excavate the remains of a whale from the extinct group Squalodontidae, commonly known as "shark-toothed dolphins."

Before they remove the fossil, they must encase it in a plaster jacket. It's a process that can take up to two days. But they are racing the tide and have just four hours to remove the fossil. Will they make it?

Watch a time-lapse video of the dig and read Dr. Pyenson's accounts of the Panama expedition on the Ocean Portal Paleobiology Blog.

Tags: Whales Paleobiology Smithsonian collections Smithsonian scientists Behind-the-scenes Scientists at work National Museum of Natural History Fossils Technology
Smithsonian researchers eat a meal in preparation for a fossil excavation
Preview Complete Fish Skeleton Discovered by Smithsonian Scientists in Panama
Preview Smithsonian Scientists Dig a Trench Around a squalodontid Skull
Preview Smithsonian scientists apply a plaster bandage cap to a block of rock containing fossils
Preview a squalodontid skull is dislodged after a plaster jacket is applied
Preview Scientists remove remove the whale fossil plaster jacket from the r
Preview Smithsonian scientists race the tide the excavate an ancient whale fossil entombed in rock
Preview A Smithsonian scientist with a whale fossil he excavated
Smithsonian researchers eat a meal in preparation for a fossil excavation

Researchers Prepare for a Long Day in the Field

Credit: Jorge Velez-Juarbe

Paeleobiologist Dr. Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals for the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), set out with Jorge Velez-Juarbe, NMNH Research Student and Ph. D. Candidate at Howard University and Aaron O'Dea from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on an expedition in Panama to excavate a squalodontid, commonly referred to as a shark-toothed whale, in June 2011.

Before heading out to the fossil locality in Piña, Panama on the Caribbean coast, the team of researchers have a full breakfast at a cantina by the side of the road: roasted chicken, plantains, and some coffee.

Watch a time-lapse video of the dig, peruse a slideshow, and read Dr. Pyenson's account of the Panama expedition on the Ocean Portal Paleobiology Blog.

 

Complete Fish Skeleton Discovered by Smithsonian Scientists in Panama

Fish Skeleton Discovery

Credit: Jorge Velez-Juarbe

Paeleobiologist Dr. Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals for the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), set out with Jorge Velez-Juarbe, NMNH Research Student and Ph. D. Candidate at Howard University and Aaron O'Dea from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on an expedition in Panama to excavate a squalodontid, commonly referred to as a shark-toothed dolphin, in June 2011.

The fossil squalodontid skull was located in the middle of the tidal environment in Panama, exposed to the eroding elements of surf, sun, sand and waves. When the researchers arrived at the site the tide was just going out. They ambled out through the surf and spotted several other interesting fossils along the way: a partial whale skull, shark teeth, and a complete skeleton of a large fish, probably a close relative to a swordfish or a marlin. This fish skeleton was complete from nose to the tailfin! Seen here is segment of the tailfin against a 10cm ruler for scale.

Watch a time-lapse video of the dig, peruse a slideshow, and read Dr. Pyenson's account of the Panama expedition on the Ocean Portal Paleobiology Blog.

Smithsonian Scientists Dig a Trench Around a squalodontid Skull

Digging a Trench

Credit: Jorge Velez-Juarbe

Paeleobiologist Dr. Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals for the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), set out with Jorge Velez-Juarbe, NMNH Research Student and Ph. D. Candidate at Howard University and Aaron O'Dea from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on an expedition in Panama to excavate a squalodontid, commonly referred to as a shark-toothed dolphin, in June 2011.

The fossil squalodontid skull was located in the middle of the tidal environment in Panama, exposed to the eroding elements of surf, sun, sand and waves. The first thing scientists had to do when they arrived on site was outline the general excavation area and take careful measurements of exposed fossils and record the distances between parts of the exposed skeletons. Next, they applied acrylic glue to the exposed bone to stabilize it. Then a small surface-layer cap of plaster bandages is applied to the skull to protect it from any errant whacks while digging. Finally, the digging begins, and scientists work to make a deep trench around the skull (shown here).  

The scientists successfully removed the fossil remains later that day.  Watch a time-lapse video of the dig, peruse a slideshow, and read Dr. Pyenson's account of the Panama expedition on the Ocean Portal Paleobiology Blog.

 

Smithsonian scientists apply a plaster bandage cap to a block of rock containing fossils

Securing the Fossil

Credit: Jorge Velez-Juarbe

Paeleobiologist Dr. Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals for the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), set out with Jorge Velez-Juarbe, NMNH Research Student and Ph. D. Candidate at Howard University and Aaron O'Dea from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on an expedition in Panama to excavate a squalodontid, commonly referred to as a shark-toothed dolphin, in June 2011.

After several hours of non-stop digging, the researchers have exposed a deep trench around the skull to begin applying a bigger plaster bandage cap around the block of rock containing the fossils. They use medial plaster bandages which consist of fabric already dipped in plaster -- this way they only have to add water to initiate the hardening process. The team applied around five layers of bandages to the entire surface; creating a cap around the block.

Watch a time-lapse video of the dig, peruse a slideshow, and read Dr. Pyenson's account of the Panama expedition on the Ocean Portal Paleobiology Blog.

 

a squalodontid skull is dislodged after a plaster jacket is applied

Dislodging the Fossil

Credit: Aaron O'Dea

Paeleobiologist Dr. Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals for the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), set out with Jorge Velez-Juarbe, NMNH Research Student and Ph. D. Candidate at Howard University and Aaron O'Dea from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on an expedition in Panama to excavate a squalodontid, commonly referred to as a shark-toothed dolphin, in June 2011.

After several hours of non-stop digging, the scientists exposed a deep enough trench around the skull to be able to apply a plaster bandage cap around the block of rock containing the fossils. The scientists wrap the perimeter of the block as tightly as possible, so that the resultant jacket fits snugly. They applied around five layers over the entire surface; once set, the plaster formed a cap around the block, which sat on a pedestal. Here a researcher takes large pick and strikes the base of the pedestal that the fossil caps sits upon. Done correctly, a few good whacks will dislodge the jacket, flip it, and remove it.

Watch a time-lapse video of the dig, peruse a slideshow, and read Dr. Pyenson's account of the Panama expedition on the Ocean Portal Paleobiology Blog.

 

Scientists remove remove the whale fossil plaster jacket from the r

Excavating the Fossil

Credit: Aaron O'Dea

Paeleobiologist Dr. Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals for the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), set out with Jorge Velez-Juarbe, NMNH Research Student and Ph. D. Candidate at Howard University and Aaron O'Dea from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on an expedition in Panama to excavate a squalodontid, commonly referred to as a shark-toothed dolphin, in June 2011.

After several hours of non-stop digging, the scientists exposed a deep enough trench around the skull to be able to apply a plaster bandage cap around the block of rock containing the fossils. The scientists wrap the perimeter of the block as tightly as possible, so that the resultant jacket fits snugly. They applied around five layers over the entire surface; once set, the plaster formed a cap around the block, which sat on a pedestal. Then, after it dried, they took a large pick and struck the base of the pedestal. Done correctly, a few good whacks will dislodge the jacket, flip it, and remove it.

Watch a time-lapse video of the dig, peruse a slideshow, and read Dr. Pyenson's account of the Panama expedition on the Ocean Portal Paleobiology Blog.

 

Smithsonian scientists race the tide the excavate an ancient whale fossil entombed in rock

Racing the Tide

Credit: Aaron O'Dea

Paeleobiologist Dr. Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals for the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), set out with Jorge Velez-Juarbe, NMNH Research Student and Ph. D. Candidate at Howard University and Aaron O'Dea from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on an expedition in Panama to excavate a squalodontid, commonly referred to as a shark-toothed dolphin, in June 2011.

The fossil squalodontid skull was located in the middle of the tidal environment in Panama, giving the researchers an added challenge of racing the tide for the excavation. The team was successful in their efforts, conducting an excavation that would normally take two days in just four hours.

Watch a time-lapse video of the dig, peruse a slideshow, and read Dr. Pyenson's account of the Panama expedition on the Ocean Portal Paleobiology Blog.

 

A Smithsonian scientist with a whale fossil he excavated

Panama Expedition Success

Credit: Jorge Velez-Juarbe

Paeleobiologist Dr. Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Fossil Marine Mammals for the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History (NMNH), set out with Jorge Velez-Juarbe, NMNH Research Student and Ph. D. Candidate at Howard University and Aaron O'Dea from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute on an expedition in Panama to excavate a squalodontid, commonly referred to as a shark-toothed dolphin, in June 2011.

After the plaster jackets are applied to the ancient fossil whale and dislodged from the rocks, they are relocated to higher (and drier) ground. Here, Dr. Nicholas Pyenson, Curator of Marine Mammal Fossils at the National Museum of Natural History poses with the safely encased fossils in their plaster jackets. Eventually the toothed whale will make its way to the museum's Department of Paleobiology.

Watch a time-lapse video of the dig, peruse a slideshow, and read Dr. Pyenson's account of the Panama expedition on the Ocean Portal Paleobiology Blog.