About Paleontologists
Paleontology is the science of ancient life. Dinosaur paleontologists combine geology, biology, anatomy, chemistry, physics, computer modeling, fieldwork, and museum research. Fossil discovery is only the beginning of a long scientific process.
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Finding Fossils
Field teams search exposed rock layers of the right age and environment.
Learn MoreMapping a Site
Scientists carefully record where each fossil is found.
Learn MoreExcavation
Removing a fossil requires patience and careful tools.
Learn MorePreparation
Laboratory preparation exposes fossils hidden in rock.
Learn MoreScientific Analysis
Paleontologists measure fossils and compare them with other specimens.
Learn MoreNaming New Species
New dinosaur species are named through published scientific research.
Learn MoreMuseum Research
Museum collections are one of paleontology's most important resources.
Learn MoreA Team Science
Modern paleontology depends on many different jobs.
Learn MoreFinding Fossils
Paleontologists study geological maps and satellite images, then walk across exposed ground looking for fossil fragments. A small piece weathering out of a hillside can lead to a much larger skeleton still buried inside rock.
Mapping a Site
Before bones are removed, teams photograph and map their positions. Orientation, rock layer, nearby fossils, sediment type, and relationships between bones can all provide information that would be lost if fossils were simply collected without records.
Excavation
Loose sediment may be brushed away with small tools, while harder rock can require picks, chisels, or powered tools used by trained workers. Large bones are often protected in plaster field jackets before transport.
Preparation
Preparators use needles, air scribes, microscopes, adhesives, and other tools to remove matrix and stabilize fragile fossils. This process can take months or even years for a complicated specimen.
Scientific Analysis
Researchers study anatomy, bone histology, tooth wear, growth, biomechanics, chemistry, and many other features. CT scans can reveal internal structures without cutting into a fossil.
Naming New Species
A researcher must describe the specimen in detail, compare it with related animals, identify features that distinguish it, designate a type specimen, and publish the work so other scientists can evaluate the evidence.
Museum Research
Scientists travel to collections around the world to compare fossils. Old specimens sometimes turn out to represent new species or preserve information that earlier researchers could not detect.
A Team Science
Field crews, fossil preparators, collection managers, geologists, illustrators, laboratory scientists, data specialists, students, volunteers, and local communities may all contribute to a discovery.