What do we mean?
Reading a fossil without cutting it open
Digitization refers to the process of capturing the three-dimensional data and shape of a fossil. With digital computing tools this has become standard practice for many museums and paleontological institutions.
To capture the best possible imagery, we work with external laboratories to scan our specimens using micro-CT methods. This allows us to view the internal anatomy of a fossil by non-destructive means, which can tell us things about an animal's life or its sensory capabilities that the outside of the bone never would.
Getting fossils into the public trust often means accessioning them into collections at trusted museums, and CT data matters just as much there. It gives collections managers a near-perfect reference for repair if material is ever damaged, and it allows for the creation of reproductions if an original specimen is ever destroyed.
How it works