Fossil Lab: What happens in the lab?

There are many stages to fossil preparation.

NPS Photo / Lexi Richmond

When fossils first arrive at the lab, they are encased in hard plaster to keep them stable.

NPS Photo / Larry McAfee

The Fossil Preparation Lab is a place where fossils are brought in from the field to get worked on in detail. There, paleontologists use specialized tools to remove rock from fossils. At the end of fossil preparation, the fossils are completely revealed by these scientists.

From start to finish, this process can look very different. At first, paleontologists use power tools to remove the plaster cast from the fossil. Then, specialized drills and chemicals are used to chip away at and dissolve the rock surrounding the fossil. Later, as the fossil is further revealed, paleontologists may use small picks to finish the details of removing rock. Throughout this process, a special glue may also be used to attach broken parts or strengthen cracks.

In addition to being a scientific center, the Fossil Preparation Lab is a place where visitors can come to learn more about Badlands paleontology.

NPS Photo / Larry McAfee

The Fossil Preparation Lab is also a place where scientists gather to learn more about the past. As paleontologists work on these fossils, hypotheses are made, and information is recorded. Many researchers use specimens from the lab to learn more about past life. Sometimes, the fossils getting worked on in the lab are an important part of new scientific discoveries!

And the lab is not only a place for scientists: it’s for visitors, too! At the lab, visitors have the chance to watch paleontology in action and ask questions to scientists about their work. There, visitors can learn all about the ancient animals of the park, the research going on today, and what it’s like to be a professional paleontologist.