COLLECTIONS RELOCATION, REEVALUATION, AND REHOUSING AT DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT, UTAH AND COLORADO, USA

Since the passing of its enabling legislation in 1915, the primary mission of Dinosaur National Monument (DINO) has been the preservation and interpretation of its fragile fossil resources. From 2006 to the summer of 2020, over 13,000 fossils, biological specimens, and archeological artifacts were stored in subpar collections facilities. These facilities exposed specimens to possible hantavirus contamination, poor ventilation, dust accumulation, and rodent activity. We inventoried, decontaminated, and transported objects to a new facility, where we assessed the collection. We identified two major issues: damage caused by inadequate support or non-archival materials, and the use of hazardous materials such as asbestos in repair and preparation. In order to repair the current specimens and mitigate future issues, the damage is being evaluated based on the success of the previously used methods. Updated methods such as the use of new adhesives (e.g. PaleoBond and B72), clamshell cradles, bedding jackets, cavity mounts, and padded trays are being implemented. These new conservation methods will vastly improve research capability, specimen longevity, and overall accessibility at DINO. The state of collections prior to this project highlights a global issue in paleontology. Poor collections management facilitates the loss of scientific data and hinders educational and research accessibility in both the present and future. Therefore, it is vital that collections material be properly stored and managed. This project provides a framework for the transport, assessment, and repair of fossil collections.