Finished Fossil Preparation - Sabre-tooth Cat Hoplophoneus (Complete video)

So here's the complete time lapse video of the fossil preparation of a false sabre-toothed cat called Hoplophoneus primaevus. This fossil was found exposed on a private ranch in South Dakota and comes from the Brule Formation of the White River Group dating back to the Oligocene 30 million years ago. This time lapse condenses about 30 hours of prep time down to a couple of minutes. Below are a list of some of the tools I used for this prep project:
Hand tools:
Exacto knife - for removing matrix close to the teeth
Pin Vice with Tungsten Carbide stylus - to clean between the teeth
Pnuematic air tools (linked to large air compressor):
Paleotools ME-9100 - Air tool with pointed stylus to remove the bulk matrix from around the skull
Zoic Palaeotech ZPT Microraptor - Lower pressure air tool with fine point for finer detail cleaning
Consolidants:
3-4% Paraloid B72 & acetone - helps penetrate into the smallest of fractures to give the bone strength.
#fossilpreparation #fossilprep #sabretoothcat

[@ollieroo3334]

Bless you for making these videos!! I’m a volunteer fossil preparator for my local NHM, but volunteers have not been allowed back during the pandemic. Fossil prep is one of my favorite things ever and I’ve been missing it SO much, so these videos scratch that itch!

[@PalaeoArt]

I'm glad you like it and I've had fun putting these together. I know that feeling when you've not been prepping for a while and just want to get back into the museum!

[@desolatorready2644]

Beautiful, you are truly lucky and prepared to bring such incredible piece of time.

[@PalaeoArt]

Thank you very much!

[@Chr.U.Cas2216]

👍👌👏 Simply fantastic! Maaan, I could watch this for hours. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health.

[@PalaeoArt]

No problem. Glad you like it and happy to be sharing these.

[@darrencottam1146]

Amazing ,love this ,been watching a bloke in new Zealand for a couple of weeks with crabs and penguins etc ,but a false sabre is a great find .thank you fascinating,I will never overlook Radom rocks again.

[@JeannetteBaumbach]

This work takes a lot of patience, but it's also very fascinating! I'd like that too❣ 👍😍

[@PalaeoArt]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@mnilsson2704]

Who gives a thumbs down to something so fantastic and interesting. The result is magnificant

[@PalaeoArt]

Yes, I often ask myself the same question. Glad you liked it though!

[@samwebster4901]

I used to this with much more recent pottery. I always wondered how much different this type of fossil must feel. I was obsessed with sabre toothed animals at the time.

[@PalaeoArt]

The sabres are super smooth to touch but with a fine serration down both edges.

[@TheFossilFiend]

Great prep work of this amazing fossil. Thanks for the video!

[@Max-pj4ok]

Absolutely fantastic! What a beautiful skull.

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks very much. Yes, the preservation is excellent on this one.

[@outdoorsy01]

Absolutely amazing

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks very much. glad you like how it turned out.

[@grahmmo8595]

After this beautiful video I subscribed well done my friend thank you for such a amazing video and showcasing such priceless history

[@coastalgraphicsllc4370]

amazing work

[@davidletasi3322]

Really nice specimen!

[@fungusamongus.76]

I once read that sabre tooth can generate a bite force of 800 to 1200 newtons depending on its size and body weight which is really fascinating because the energy is quite lower when compared with the bite force of apex cat family predators like bengal tiger or panther.

[@PalaeoArt]

That’s right. Sabre toothed carnivores (which there were many different species) like Smilodon or Homotherium were though to be more suffocating predators. Piercing the back teeth into the soft throat behind the windpipe and then closing around it to cut off the oxygen. The long the canine the more around the back of the windpipe you could get and perhaps less force was needed. Just one theory.

[@sonilakaja1925]

Woooooow this Is a cool saber tooth

[@PalaeoArt]

It sure it! Certainly the best I've prepped

[@adorable6385]

Aside, I have an eating problem but watching this procedure I was longer hungry not in a bad way but in a relaxing mood.

[@PalaeoArt]

Glad you like it.

[@adorable6385]

With the highest regard and respect

[@Agust_vs711]

awesome , like watching this

[@suet.r.4815]

This is so cool!!! -It's dumb that I'm so excited! -Lol.

[@PalaeoArt]

Don’t worry. It’s surprisingly addictive.

[@heldlightning7118]

Awesome!

[@tylowren2005]

Amazing!!!!

[@shawndouglass2939]

That's amazing😃

[@cherrycotapie]

i watched some of ur videos and i cant wait to graduate highschool and go study geology 🤩

[@michaelhouck2959]

How do people not believe in dinosaurs when we find fossils everywhere

[@Dhidotzchannel]

Apik tenan iki kang

[@PalaeoArt]

Thank you very much.

[@olvaddeepfake]

that looks incredible. i would love to beable to work on fossils like this but sadly i don't think i would find any like this where i live. maybe one day!

[@normblais5120]

Thats a great specimen!!

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks very much. I wanted to take my time on this one!

[@GC-wn3dw]

Beautiful 👍 thank you for this marvelous video

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks very much. Glad you like it.

[@bryanwatson123]

you could tell this was going to be a great skull even in the nodule

[@ljclark473]

Spectacular! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@PalaeoArt]

No problem. Plenty more to come!

[@raygeraghty7425]

Excellent video of the preparation of this skull. I have a museum quality replica smilodon skull In my fossil collection.!

[@iainking4256]

Another beautiful piece of artistry, well done young man your skills seem to get better with every piece you do. As a matter of interest if I was to buy a piece such as this what would the cost be. We have various creatures over here but I don’t think we have any carnivores. The pieces I have wanted for most of my life have been a Sabre tooth cat and a dire wolf, as well as a Mammoth tooth. I can dream but thanks again, and Cheers from the land down under.

[@sandeepk0879]

🙈🙉🙊GOOD JOB🙈🙉🙉

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks very much. Glad you like the finished fossil.

[@jerulew3547]

Truly AMAZING! How did U know it was even a fossil let lone a saber tooth?

[@gregghatfield9946]

Just such an amazing piece and so beautiful it’s awesome that we can find stuff like this and be able to enjoy it just amazes me thanks for sharing

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks Greg. Glad you like it. Plenty more fossil prep vids to come.

[@marcogentile8090]

Grazie 💥💯

[@PalaeoArt]

Glad you like it.

[@rrrey0234]

Hey! Great video and great work! Did you find the fossil by yourself or did you bought it? Is it yours or from a customer?

[@galvinowens7398]

Where I live at we still find fossils. I just don't know how to clean it but we just collected them Around our place .

[@GlassDragon21]

How do you get into fossils prep? What would you recommend some one should study?

[@PalaeoArt]

Great question. I got into fossil prep when I volunteered at the University museum while I was studying Biology at Uni. Most universities or museums have good fossil collections so they might be worth chatting to. Once I got hooked, I just practiced a lot on basic common fossils from different formations to make sure I got used to prepping different forms of matrix. It's been a fun journey.

[@MARKBBOICE]

I was about to ask the same question. It's not like a model car where if you fuck up you can just get a new one. When you say common fossils? Like ammonites?

[@fos8838]

Love the video. Really soothing. May I ask where the background music came from?

[@alexandermelchers1497]

Something that's not entirely clear to me, but that I expect is the case is: I occasionally see you brushing the specimen down. Is that to remove dust, or apply Paraloid, or both? Stunning specimen, either way :)

[@kylelindberg7771]

where do you get all these amazing raw fossils?

[@raygrange7312]

Beautiful job. Interested to know where it was found.

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks Ray. This one was found on a private ranch in Custer County, South Dakota.

[@raygrange7312]

@@PalaeoArt 👍

[@user-qy4vr6dm6w]

Крутяк RUS.

[@Poosnatcher]

Is that just a pick or like an air chizle?

[@khengvuy3597]

Wonder Best of Experience

[@user-uz4gh7sm9l]

Tell me the cheat code you used for Infinite Patience level.

[@PalaeoArt]

If I knew it I'd share it!!

[@ayhanuslu9019]

Fosillerde yumuşak dokuya ait yapılar yokmudur bir şekilde mevcudiyetini koruyamaz mı? Bu konuda ne söylenebilir?

[@Box_plot]

How much time take you to prepare this fossil?

[@sulistiyonotukang4792]

bagus

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks you. Glad you liked the finished fossil.

[@Rawdog46]

hey sir, this is baby sabre?

[@PatrickzStars]

why that fossil aren't turn into fuel?🤔

[@louisvandenbroeck5135]

Is it for sale??

[@Droppingineveryvideo]

Hey... New sub here..

[@PalaeoArt]

Welcome!

[@harishtiraiya1]

How much time soil take a to get dry for clean again one or two hours

[@PalaeoArt]

So this fossil is surrounded by rock (not soil). It took 30 million years for the rock to form around it.

[@shahrukhs1637]

Do you work at a museum or a government facility? How well to do are paleontologists

[@PalaeoArt]

I don't. I'm a private fossil preparator.

[@ethanhawtin7561]

Do you buy them, prep them, then sell them for more money?

[@PalaeoArt]

I do fossil hunt in this formation but this one was found by a local ranch owner. I don't tend to sell fossils but I love prepping them!

[@arie7375]

Cool... How much it costs if you sell it? 😁

[@PalaeoArt]

Glad you like it. Not sure on pricing I’m afraid.

[@SuperJames215]

A lot of money because you wont find another one

[@cherrycotapie]

4:12 theres an insect !

[@ionelavioricalupu6884]

Bine că oamenii au apărut după ce au dispărut asemenea pradatori

[@PalaeoArt]

I agree.

[@ionelavioricalupu6884]

@@PalaeoArt TOT CE APARȚINE TRECUTULUI INDEPARTAT ESTE EXTRAORDINAR

[@user-qc4rl5xx1k]

Саблезубая кошечка!?

[@derek2826]

Dislikes are Dinosaur Disbelievers

[@PalaeoArt]

That seems to be true. Hard to dispute the science.

[@amberhutchinson6036]

I wonder how it died I guess we will never know!

[@user-vt2zx5nh3c]

I have what i believe to be the forst cat skull found in southwales but need to email you details and possibly pay you to prep it for me please reply

[@lorettasachsel6479]

Why not show us what the animal looked like when it was alive?

[@maulanayaqin3184]

Dijual harga berapah dolar

[@PalaeoArt]

No deal.

[@Marcos2006]

Incrível Brazil 🇧🇷 ⁰²⁰³²⁰²¹

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks a lot. Glad you liked it

[@seifeseattle]

30 million years ago? Are you sure.....Mr scientist?

[@PalaeoArt]

Oh yes, very sure. This formation dates from 29.5-34 million years old.

[@FirstLast-jf9on]

I really dont know why archeologists and scientists give false time dating.

[@PalaeoArt]

30 million years is pretty accurate.

[@FirstLast-jf9on]

@@PalaeoArt Pretty accurate? Then tell me why it is accurate and I will tell you why it's not.

[@PalaeoArt]

@@FirstLast-jf9on You've thrown out the wild challenge so happy to hear your view.

[@FirstLast-jf9on]

@@PalaeoArt ohw, now you're afraid coz you yourself know that the time and dating used is not "pretty accurate".

[@mhdfrb9971]

@@PalaeoArt time dating were never accurate. It's just an estimate