Opportunity For Training In Palaeontological ConservationTechniques

From
Date
This announcement is posted for Nigel Larkin, Castle Museum. Please direct
all responses to Nigel (e-mail address given below).

Norm MacLeod

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Opportunity For Training In Palaeontological Conservation Techniques

CVs are invited from anyone with a conservation or palaeontological
background who is interested in acquiring practical conservation skills
during the summer months of 1997.

Placements are available in this conservation laboratory over the summer
for a minimum of six weeks for individuals who have, or can find, their own
funding to cover subsistence costs - rent, food, travel, etc. All training,
equipment, and bench space will be provided. The training offered will
include: preparation of subfossil material; techniques and materials in
remedial conservation; and practical preventive conservation problem
solving.

This position is to assist with the conservation of the West Runton
Elephant - a well preserved 600,000 year old mammoth skeleton from the
coast of Norfolk. This is a unique find of international importance which
has brought together specialists from around the world to collaborate on
this excellent opportunity to study the rich fauna of this type site of the
Cromerian. A geological Site of Special Scientific Interest, West Runton
has been the source of numerous fossil remains over the last 170 years -
but never before has such a complete skeleton been recovered from these
deposits.

This opportunity is suitable for conservators and others who wish to
broaden their experience of practical work and those who are contemplating
specialising in palaeontology, archaeology, or natural history in general.
It would particularly suit undergraduate conservation students between
their second and third years. It is essential that applicants already have
some conservation training or experience and/or geological preparation
experience. A general interest in fossils, geology, or natural history
would be advantageous. The project will cover many aspects of  practical
conservation that are applicable to other spheres of conservation, like
practical training in: airbrasive use, airpen & dental motor use, general
conservation techniques, resin and glass fibre support construction, the
consoldation & reconstruction of fossil material, asessing storage needs,
and general proactive conservation problem solving.

In brief, the project involves the removal of skeletal remains from the
field jackets in which they were secured during excavation, and the
cleaning, stabilisation, strengthening, partial reconstruction and stable
packaging of these remains.  In the long term these bones are to be studied
and replicated for display; such considerations must be kept in mind during
the cleaning and repackaging stages of the work. The bones themselves may
be cleaned by a variety of methods, including the use of dental hand tools,
pneumatic pens, and airbrasive equipment. Use of suitable consolidants,
adhesives and gap- fillers will be required, as will three-dimensional
reconstruction in some cases. A variety of approaches can be used, and
treatment of each element of the specimen is recorded in detail.

There is scope for applying preventive conservation practices and being
proactive in our approach to the long term storage of the material.
Labelling, boxing, and macro-environmental storage approaches have to be
considered, as well as the structural needs of each individual bone
element. Unique supportive structures have to be fashioned for each find
from a list of available products including, but not limited to: polyester
and epoxy resins with glass fibre; plastazote; and polypropelene boxes. The
problems of long term storage will be addressed, including packaging and
microclimates, accessibility, and environmental conditions within storage
areas.

This conservation laboratory is located at the Norfolk Rural Life Museum
and Working Farm in a quiet rural area of Norfolk, 18 miles from the City
of Norwich. Own transport is definitely desirable.

Applicants should send a copy of their CV, including the names and
addresses of referees, to: Nigel Larkin, Conservation Department, Castle
Museum, Norwich, Norfolk. NR1 3JU. United Kingdom (nrlarkin@easynet.co.uk).



___________________________________________________________________

Dr. Norman MacLeod
Micropalaeontological Research
N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk (E-mail)

Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Office Phone: 0171-938-9006
Dept. FAX: 0171-938-9277
E-mail: N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk
___________________________________________________________________