Exceptional fossilization of a Pleistocene vulture by pyroclastic flow deposits

[Oxytropidoceras]

Below is an interesting paper that I came across.

 

Iurino, D.A., Bellucci, L., Schreve, D. and Sardella, R., 2014. 

Exceptional soft tissue fossilization of a Pleistocene vulture 

(Gyps fulvus): new evidence for emplacement temperatures 

of pyroclastic flow deposits. Quaternary Science Reviews, 

96, pp. 180-187.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277379114001553

 

The abstract states:

 

“Here we report an exceptional case of soft tissue fossilization 

of a Late Pleistocene Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in 

the pyroclastic sequence of the Alban Hills volcanic region 

(SE Rome, Italy).”

 

CT scans of the natural cast revealed extraordinary detail in

the natural cast of the head, including everted tongue, beak, 

feather insertions and the nictitating membrane of the eye.

 

The PDF file of this paper can be found at:

 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262431624_Exceptional_soft_tissue_fossilization_of_a_Pleistocene_vulture_Gyps_fulvus_New_evidence_for_emplacement_temperatures_of_pyroclastic_flow_deposits

 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266734626_EXCEPTIONAL_SOFT_TISSUE_FOSSILIZATION_OF_A_LATE_PLEISTOCENE_VULTURE_GYPS_FULVUS_FROM_ALBAN_HILLS_VOLCANIC_REGION_ITALY

 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Dawid_Iurino

 

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luca_Bellucci3

 

Yours,

 

Paul H.

[Innocentx]

Quite amazing, especially the tools now available for researchers.

[Xiphactinus]

That was a really cool article. Thanks for sharing!

[Fossildude19]

Remarkable.  

Thank you for the links, Paul.   

[Auspex]

Great Googly Moogly! I never would have believed it!

Figure the odds of it happening, then figure in the odds of finding and recognizing it....