FINDING AND PROCESSING CAVE FOSSILS USING ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT

Caves are well-known repositories for vertebrate remains. Some of these remains are important paleontological resources that are otherwise poorly documented in the fossil record, particularly microvertebrates and cave dwellers. In addition, caves often preserve the remains of animals that entered via geologic or hydrologic processes, carnivores, scavengers, or other collectors. While larger vertebrate remains are often obvious in or on top of cave sediments, smaller specimens are much more difficult to see and record. Here we demonstrate the utility of using UV lights to find and assess vertebrate deposits in caves. This presentation includes examples of stratified microfossil deposits in moist silty clay, scattered remains of small vertebrates and fragments of larger vertebrates in dry dusty deposits, and various fossil material in breccia and perched clay. This enhanced visibility allows for greater recognition of fossils and depositional settings, as well as the ability to collect material more carefully. After collecting, the UV light can also be used during screen-washing to minimize the impact of this process on delicate fossils, and during the picking process to increase efficiency.