The Mammoth Excavation San Jose Mammoth home page

  DAY 2

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undercutting the femur
UCMP's Jenny McGuire and Randy Irmis start the day by removing lots of mudstone from around the mammoth's femur. © 2005 UCMP		 more undercutting the femur
The idea is to leave only a narrow pedestal between the chunk containing the femur and the ground. © 2005 UCMP		 covering the femur in wet paper towels
In order to remove the femur safely, it must be encased in a protective jacket. The first step is to cover the bone with wet paper towels. © 2005 UCMP
covering the femur in plaster and burlap
Next, a sturdy layer of burlap dipped in plaster is added to the fossil. © 2005 UCMP		 cutting channels to drain the site
When the plaster jacket dries, the bone's pedestal will be undercut. Then the whole piece can be removed and turned over, safe in the jacket. © 2005 UCMP		 work begins on the mammoth pelvis
Jenny and Randy now start excavating the mammoth's pelvis. On the right side of this image you can see the turned-over jacket containing the femur. © 2005 UCMP

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