Commentary On Commercial Fossil Collecting

[Oxytropidoceras]

A recent commentary about commercial fossil collecting is:

Larson, P L., and D. Russell, 2014, The benefits of

commercial fossil sales to 21st-century paleontology.

Palaeontologia Electronica. vol. 17, no. 1, Article

number: 17.1.2E (April 2014)

http://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2014/739-commentary-benefits-of-fossil-sales

PDF version - http://palaeo-electronica.org/content/pdfs/commentary_benefit.pdf

It refers to an earlier commentary:

Shimada, K., P. J. Currie, E. Scott, and S. S. Sumida,

2014, The greatest challenge to 21st century

paleontology: When commercialization of fossils

threatens the science. Palaeontologia Electronica

vol. 17, no. 1, Article number: 17.1.1E, 4 p;

http://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2014/691-great-threat-in-21st-century

PDF version - http://palaeo-electronica.org/content/pdfs/comment_threat.pdf

Also, there is:

Plotnick, R., 2008, Out of the Mainstream: Heated

Discussions and Strong Opinions. Palaeontologia

Electronica. vol. 11, no. 2,

http://palaeo-electronica.org/2008_2/commentary/comment.htm

and

Future Research Directions in Paleontology

Report of a Workshop Held April 8-9, 2006

Sponsored by the National Science Foundation

http://paleosoc.org/FRDP-Brochure.pdf

The above papers and web pages do not necessarily

express either my opinions or beliefs on this subject.

Any comments about them should be addressed

to the authors of the papers and web pages.

Yours,

Paul H.

[JohnJ]

Bravo and kudos to Larson and Russell for voicing a rational perspective that acknowledges the future of paleontology is brighter when professionals and amateurs (commercial or individual) forge stronger bonds of cooperation. In my opinion, paleontology will slip into its own "dark ages" if just relegated to the 'entitled' and 'privileged'.

[Wrangellian]

Thanks, Paul! Now I have something to direct people to that says it better than I could! (the first article)

[Scylla]

Yay, paleontological professionals who really understand reality (the first paper) Thanks Paul, reading that really cheered me up.

[Xiphactinus]

Very interesting articles. Thanks for sharing!