Troodon Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Partnerships can take many different forms, let me share one that I've been involved in with the Royal Ontario Museum ( ROM ) and my Troodon formosus Maxilla and to a lesser degree my Anzu wyliei Mandibles: Species: Anzu wyliei Size in length: +8" (20 cm) (Adult), +4" (10 cm) (Juvenile) Discovered 2010 @ 2011 Geologic Formation: Hell Creek Location: Garfield County, Montana Age: (67 - 65.5 mya The A. wyliei mandibles: were found in a channel deposit near Jordan, Montana. A professional preparer did all of the cleaning and stabilization. Species: Troodon formous Size in length: +5" (13 cm) (Adult) Discovered in the summer of 2014 Geologic Formation: Judith River Location: Harve, Montana Age: Campanian (80 - 75 mya) The T. formosus Maxilla: The initial photos out of the ground with just field cleaning. Prepping was accomplished in several phases and was made easier since the specimen was extracted in two pieces. On the initial prep I focused on the 5 visible crowns of pristine unerupted teeth, each 3/8" (1 cm) long. The prefrontal bridge over the maxillary opening had separated from the maxilla and was missing a small section so after the initial prep the jaw was in three pieces . The maxilla was very fragile and thin with precariously placed teeth. So prepping was very tedious so not to damage or destroy anything. The tooth sockets were deep and to my surprise I was able to find 4 "germ" teeth . I went as far as my skills, tools and nerves allowed and wrapped it up in December. My prepping skills are limited to mechanical cleaning, so I did not attempt any repair or reconstruction on something so rare. This is the maxilla after I was completed with it. Earlier in the fall, after the prep was at a reasonable state, pictures were sent to Don Brinkman of the Royal Tyrrell Museum to get his read on the maxilla and determine scarcity. He was very excited to see it and said that only few skull elements had been found of a North American Troodon and nothing associated with a dentition. He sent photos to Phil Currie and they were very curious about the shape of the teeth and number of alveolas but that's as far as it went at that point since I had not completed my prep. In January David Evans curator at the ROM contacted me and was interested in seeing my A. wyliei mandibles while he was in town for the Tucson Gem and Mineral show. The specimens he and others used to describe the dinosaur in 2014 did not have good chompers and needed photos for a follow-up study. For those of you that are not familiar with this dinosaur its an Caenagnathidae type theropod (initially referred to as Chirostenotes) and has toothless jaws with huge hand claws. So in February we met and along with the mandibles I also showed David the Troodon maxilla. He was extremely excited and asked if he could study it at the ROM and made me an offer I could not refuse. They would complete the cleaning, do the repairs to the bridge and provide me casts and CT scan of the maxilla. Boy what a fantastic opportunity I thought, not only to help better understand one of the least understood dinosaurs in North America but to wind up with a finished specimen and casts. (Out of room for images continued on next post) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 (edited) The project was finished in July and it was a win win for everyone. I received what was promised, see images, and Phil Currie and the ROM had an opportunity to study the jaw and make casts for themselves. All in all a great experience and it was a pleasure to work with paleontologist that value collectors. Their is a next step, after I play around with the jaw for a while I need to decide what to do with it and where it will reside. The museum would like to do a paper on it but that requires that it be deposited in an accredited institution. There are a number of options to get it there if that's my decision but for now I will enjoy my treasure. Edited July 16, 2015 by Troodon 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Congratulations on a great experience and some "wow" worthy fossils. I hope you eventually find a place that suits you for accession. 1 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted July 16, 2015 Author Share Posted July 16, 2015 Thanks John not your everyday fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 The paleontological grapevine works even quicker than smoke signals when important things crop up, as is obvoiusly the case with your finds. Nice to have specialists from thousands of miles away sliding by for a surprise visit. This confirms the fact that hobbies can sometimes mean serious business coupled with great experiences. 1 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 You obviously have a solid relationship with them; it is unusual in the extreme to see fossils in private hands receive such treatment. The trust and respect evinced here flow both ways. Great job! 1 "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 great fossils and great partnership work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Very good post... hats off to you for working with The ROM and Currie..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Pocock Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Wow, thanks for the post very good outcome for all as you say. Thanks Regards Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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