from the bones, each bone is drizzled with Paraloid B-72—a special archival plastic resin—dissolved in acetone. As the acetone evaporates, the B-72 remains behind to help strengthen the internal parts of the bone and to keep the surface from flaking away. Many of the vertebrae and ribs have been fully cleaned, as have some of the limb bones. The skull, one of the most fragile pieces, will be saved for last, so it can receive extra care and attention. 8
What’s inSight
These specimens are a welcome addition to the Royal BC Museum’s collection. Many of the fossils in our palaeontology collection come from Vancouver Island or south-central British Columbia, and we have relatively few fossils from the northern parts of BC. These new fossils give us a snapshot of the inhabitants of British Columbia’s ancient seas and forests, and will be a rich resource for scientific study and public engagement for years to come. The palaeontology team
at the Royal BC Museum is looking forward to sharing what we learn about these fossils as work continues! Museum staff use dental picks and toothbrushes to clean sand and debris from the bones of a 12,000-year-old bison found along the Peace River.