Fossil Preparation Lab

layered badlands buttes reach into a cloudy sky above — Badlands buttes contain millions of years of history -- much of which can be unpacked with the sciences of geology and paleontology.
NPS Photo

Current Projects

Fossils currently being prepped in the lab.
How are fossils found?

Whether reported by a visitor or a survey, fossils are found and collected in all kinds of ways.
What happens in the lab?

An overview of what happens in Badlands' fossil preparation lab.
Curation and Preservation

After the fossils are cleaned up, they are curated and placed in the park's museum collections.
Frequently Asked Questions

The when, where, how, and who of the Badlands Fossil Preparation Lab.
Photo Gallery

View photos of prepared and in process fossils.