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2025 Poster Session
Posters will be on display in the AIC Exhibit Hall on Thursday, May 29, and Friday, May 30. Poster authors will be at their poster for a Q&A session on Friday, May 30, at 3:30pm.


Banner photo by Lane Pelovsky, Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis 
Friday May 30, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
La Brea Tar Pits in California is the world’s richest Late Pleistocene (55 kya - 10 kya) fossil locality and an International Geoheritage Site. Renowned for its abundance of specimens and excellent preservation resulting from asphaltic taphonomic conditions, the Rancho La Brea (RLB) collection has a substantial representation of biological material. Only 14 fossiliferous asphaltic deposits are known globally, making preparation of such paleontological specimens highly specialized. RLB’s Fossil Lab is the only facility in the world skilled in large-scale preparation and conservation of asphaltic fossils.




Asphaltic fossil preparation is a chemical technique, requiring degreasing solvents to remove matrix of hardened asphaltic sediment. Current preparation protocol at RLB uses manual application of small volumes of solvent, Novec 73DE, in targeted areas of adherent matrix, softening the asphalt and loosening sediment for gentle separation from specimens. Manual osteological specimen preparation is routine, but preparation of arthropod and botanical specimens requires further study. 




Lacking archived preparation records at RLB, there is no available data regarding past methods for arthropods or botanical materials. In a preliminary trial, manual preparation of arthropods with Novec 73DE demanded a highly controlled application of solvent to prevent over-saturating matrix surrounding the specimen, and disassociation of articulated elements. The mechanical effort required to remove stubborn matrix could lead to damage. 




The fragility of these materials and complications arising from solvent preparation suggested investigation of a contactless preparation method. While the use of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd-YAG) lasers is becoming increasingly common in conservation fields, its application for the removal of surface asphaltic matrix from fossil arthropods and botanical material is novel.




The pre-preparation condition of selected specimens (Quercus n=3; Juniperus n=1; arthropod n=4) was documented photographically with a Canon EOS 5, and CT scanning with a Bruker Skyscan 1273. Manual Novec 73DE preparation was performed to
Speakers
avatar for Stevie Morley

Stevie Morley

Fossil Preparator, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
Stevie Morley worked as a dedicated conservator and preparator of Late Pleistocene asphaltic fossils at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum from 2017 until 2024. During their tenure, Stevie has conducted research into the effects of various solvents on asphaltic bone and their efficacy... Read More →
Authors
avatar for Stevie Morley

Stevie Morley

Fossil Preparator, La Brea Tar Pits & Museum
Stevie Morley worked as a dedicated conservator and preparator of Late Pleistocene asphaltic fossils at the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum from 2017 until 2024. During their tenure, Stevie has conducted research into the effects of various solvents on asphaltic bone and their efficacy... Read More →
Friday May 30, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Hyatt Regency Minneapolis 229 W 43RD St New York, NY 10036 USA

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