About Timothy Expertise I can answer all kinds of questions about the history of life on earth from single-celled organisms to plants to vertebrates, and a few about the earths geologic history. I am particularly knowledgeable about vertebrate paleontology (dinosaurs, reptiles, fish and mammals), archaeology and ancient human history. I also know more than I really should about Spider-Man and Ford Mustangs.
Experience I am from western Nebraska, which is a world-class site for mammalian fossils. I studied paleontology, archaeology and history at the University of Nebraska. While I did not become a professional paleontologist or archaeologist in the end I still study it extensively and have volunteered at several digs here in Nebraska.
Question I have a 4 year old little boy who wants to be a
paleontologist when he grows up. Could you tell me
what kind of tools you would use on an excavation? Is
there a way I can help him achieve his dream?
Answer Holly-
Thanks for your question. The tools used on a typical excavation are very simple. We use shovels, spades and hoes if we have a lot of earth to move. Then we use a rock hammer to expose the fossil. Then for the delicate work of picking away the matrix to reveal all of the fossil we use dentists tools (picks and etc...), an eyelens for magnification and I used sculptors tools with metal tips. We use various sizes of paint brushes to brush away the dirt. We carry super glue to soak any pieces that are starting to come apart, and when the fossil is more or less "dug up" we blanket it with strips of paper (t.p. or newspaper usually) soaked in plaster of paris and then with burlap strips, also soaked in plaster. This makes a nice cast over the fossil so it can be safely moved back to a lab for preparation. A four-wheel drive vehicle is also a must, as is the ability to lay on your side for hours in the sun picking away in the dirt:)
You can definitely help your son to fulfill his dream. If he doesn't grow out of love with the idea (I wanted to be an jet fighter pilot or a stunt-car driver when I was little), then he will need to take as many science classes as he can once he hits high school. He will also need to go to college and study lots of geology and biology. 4-12 years for the degree depending on how far he wants to go with it (BS, MS, PhD). So you can start a college fund if you haven't already. In the meantime, you can read him dinosaur books, take him to museums, zoos, etc... (I am sure you don't need me telling you how to parent). You can buy model dino skeletons, disassemble them and bury them in a sandbox to simulate a dig. One thing I would definitely recommend is to learn more about the subject yourself. The more you know about it, the more of his questions you can answer. Sharing his enthusiasm is a good step in the right direction.
I hope I answered your questions. If you want to see what the geology tools look like, check the following website and browse around:
www.geo-tools.com
