A Victorian Fossil Wholemount Technique: A Cautionary Tale For Our Times

Abstract

A description is given of the techniques used to mount a large pliosauroid plesiosaur specimen during Victorian times. Warning is given to conservators and preparators handling historical material to be very careful of past cosmetic treatment applied to such specimens, and to be particularly aware of bizarre and damaging methods used in the past to secure large mounted specimens. These latter include planing the undersurface of the specimen and driving wrought iron nails through a wooden armature into it.