The image of a scientist carefully brushing away sand to reveal a fossilized skull represents the pinnacle of discovery. This work combines scientific rigor with exploration. Finding the fossilized remains of ancient life offers a direct connection to Earth’s deep history, providing clues about evolution, ancient ecosystems, and planetary change. The people who undertake this painstaking labor are part of a discipline dedicated to deciphering life’s story across millions of years.
What is the Proper Name for This Profession
The professional title for a person who studies and uncovers fossilized life, such as dinosaur bones, is a Paleontologist. Within this broad scientific field, the individual focused on finding and removing specimens from the ground is often called a Field Paleontologist. Their work begins with a meticulous process known as prospecting. Prospecting involves examining geological maps and searching for exposed rock layers from the target time period. For dinosaurs, this means focusing on Mesozoic Era sedimentary rock formations.
Field Paleontologists walk across these areas, particularly at the base of hills or eroded slopes, looking for small fragments of bone that have weathered out of the rock. Finding a few tiny pieces of bone or tooth can indicate a larger, more complete specimen is still embedded, triggering a formal excavation.
The Process of Excavating Dinosaur Bones
Once a promising fossil is located, the first step is to establish a quarry and document the site. Field crews use GPS coordinates to record the precise location and establish a grid system to map the spatial orientation of exposed bones. This careful mapping preserves the scientific context of the discovery, allowing researchers to understand how the animal died and was buried.
The initial phase of removal involves large tools to strip away the thick layers of rock and sediment, called overburden or matrix, that cover the fossil. Depending on the rock type and depth, this can involve using shovels, pickaxes, and even powered equipment like jackhammers, though these are only used far away from the delicate bones. As the work gets closer to the fossil, the tools become progressively smaller and more precise.
Fine-scale excavation demands patience and precision, utilizing tools similar to those a dentist might use, such as dental picks, awls, and small brushes. The preparator carefully separates the fragile bone from the surrounding rock matrix. During this delicate process, exposed bone surfaces are treated with special chemical consolidants or glues to prevent them from cracking or crumbling.
The final step for safe transport is called jacketing, which creates a protective shell around the fossil and its remaining matrix. First, a separator layer, such as wet paper towels or aluminum foil, is placed over the exposed bone to prevent the plaster from sticking. Strips of burlap, soaked in a wet plaster mixture, are then layered over the separator until a hard, durable cast is formed.
The field crew digs a trench around the perimeter of the specimen, creating a pedestal of rock underneath the jacketed bone. Once the top jacket is dry, the pedestal is undercut, allowing the entire block to be flipped over so the underside can also be jacketed. This resulting plaster cocoon, which can weigh hundreds or thousands of pounds, is labeled and then transported back to a preparation laboratory for the remaining cleaning process, which often takes years.
Becoming a Field Paleontologist
Working in the field requires a solid foundation in the sciences, typically beginning with an undergraduate degree in geology, biology, or earth sciences. Paleontology is an interdisciplinary field, so coursework in chemistry, physics, and mathematics, including statistics, is recommended. While a bachelor’s degree can provide entry-level opportunities, most professional research and museum positions require advanced study.
Aspiring Paleontologists usually obtain a Master’s degree or a Ph.D. to gain the specialized knowledge and research skills necessary for independent work. These professionals are employed by natural history museums, universities, or government agencies like the National Park Service or the U.S. Geological Survey. Some also find work with private research institutions or as consultants.
Beyond academics, success depends heavily on non-academic skills, particularly physical endurance and a strong work ethic. Fieldwork often takes place in remote locations, requiring the ability to work long hours in challenging weather conditions. Persistence, patience, and meticulous attention to detail are also necessary qualities for the painstaking work of excavation.