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In this case, we got lucky that the skin was fossilized enough to be durable enough to be exposed (with a lot of care I'm sure). But I wonder how much fossil da
by digikata 9y ago
In this case, we got lucky that the skin was fossilized enough to be durable enough to be exposed (with a lot of care I'm sure). But I wonder how much fossil data in the loose surrounding soil is lost being swept away in the standard process of getting to the bones. For example, if one could apply a 3D scanner/sensor which could pick out density/composition around the bones before they were removed from the earth, what forms would we then be able to see...
- lutorm 9y agoMost things that die are quickly picked clean to the bones by scavengers, insects, etc. I doubt for a normal skeleton there's much left around it.
- digikata 9y agoBut cases where that information is preserved are probably more prevalent that this case where the soft tissue was fossilized by harder minerals. So I would guess in terms of probability of occurence: skin-hard-fossilized < soft-tissue-soft "fossilized" < picked clean...