Fossil Preparation - Extinct Jurassic Crocodile Yorkshire Coast 180 million years old

This is the time lapse fossil preparation of a partial extinct crocodile (possibly Steneosaurus) which dates to the Lower Jurassic (180 million years ago) and was found on the Holderness Coast of Yorkshire. This blocks contains many armour scutes (bony plates), ribs and vertebrae but is only a fraction of the skeleton of this massive early croc. This took about 30-35hrs in total to prep. The list of tools used during this preparation are detailed below. If you want to see more of these fossil prep videos, feel free to subscribe or watch my fossil prep series playlist at: • Fossil Preparation Series
Pnuematic air scribes (linked to large air compressor):
Zoic Palaeotech ZPT T-Rex pen - Great for bulk matrix removal (low pressure 40PSI)
Paleotools ME-9100 - Air tool with pointed stylus used as you get closer to the fossil bone
Zoic Palaeotech ZPT Microraptor - Lower pressure air tool with fine point for finer detail cleaning
Consolidants:
3-4% Paraloid B72 & acetone - penetrates into the smallest of fractures to give the bone strength.
#fossilpreparation #fossilprep #yorkshirefossils

[@_lak3rs_211]

I absolutely love watching fossil prep time lapses, so please do continue putting them out

[@PalaeoArt]

That's great to hear! I'll keep pressing on then!

[@Treasurehunter11001]

Incredible fossil and prep !

[@PalaeoArt]

Much appreciated!

[@Agust_vs711]

I like how you explain what you are doing. Wish there was more of that

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks very much. Yes, I wish more of the croc have had been there also!!

[@fossil-freak_tom]

absolutely stunning.... greez from switzerland

[@PalaeoArt]

Many thanks!

[@alexsky9345]

Been watching through all of your videos and I just have to say - these are so beautiful. I cannot thank you enough for sharing these with us!

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks Alex. That’s very kind. I plan to do more come Jan when I’ve more time to get back to prepping. Lots more interesting blocks ready to get working on.

[@ryanwalker7289]

Incredible ! Thanks for sharing you're knowledge, exactly the content I've been searching for. 🦕

[@grahmmo8595]

Subbed such good videos man! Love the way you inform and breakdown what you’re doing

[@normblais5120]

Powerful tools for being so small. Certainly enjoyable to watch the process- great videos! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks Norm. Appreciate that. This was a fun project.

[@fossilwildlife5198]

Wow that's so gorgeous! Awesome work 👍🏻 Many greetings from Germany 😃

[@PalaeoArt]

Many thanks. Hard work but ended up being well worth it!

[@johnpartridge7623]

Incredible detail, good work mate

[@gatba5219]

Watching these videos, I was thinking of how lucky I am that the fossils I find are mostly from unconsolidated sediments. The most experience I have with prep work is scrubbing with a tooth brush, and cleaning up some Elrathia. Then I end up finding a nice large shell with some limestone covering up a lot of awkward spots 😭

[@PalaeoArt]

I'm jealous! The Yorkshire matrix is hard as rock....quite literally.

[@gatba5219]

@@PalaeoArt certainly does have some great results, though

[@fossil-freak_tom]

lucky guy, all my findings,mostly ammonites are embedded in a very hard matrix,50% with some calcid-topping,hard work... greez from a swiss fossil :-)

[@gatba5219]

@@fossil-freak_tom I realize I am very lucky, but I am still envious of places with them nice Pre-Cenozoic fossils. When I was younger, I would often find “ammonites” which I later found out to be moon snails (we don’t have anything predating the Eocene here), though, in the end they replaced ammonites as my favorite mollusks.

[@wmarian5027]

Great work, thanks for sharing

[@MountainJohn]

thank you for doing prep work on youtube. not too many videos on it

[@samgiles3515]

any idea why croc osteoderms are so pitted? is it for nerves, skin attachment or just for cutting down on mass whilst still being strong? awesome work 👍

[@PalaeoArt]

That’s a good question which I don’t know the exact answer. As I understand it the scutes act as both an armour layer as well as helping with temperature regulation. I wonder if the pitted surface provided more surface area for blood vessel attach enemy and therefore more control of body temperature?

[@AidanMartin]

man it is so satisfying watching it be process. Before Covid began I used to go to holzmaden where steneosaurus has also been found every single year.I have even got to see a complete fossil of them too but even though they really did grow to an impressive 13 feet it was far from the biggest creature in its ecosystem with the top predator being the 30 to 40 foot ichthyosaur temnodontosaurus which could have easily preyed on it if it want it to.

[@jonathanroberts-bj7yl]

Crocodiles did live here during the warmer Pleistocene.

[@matthewmiller377]

Hey, PalaeoArt I just discovered your channel. Nice work. Have you ever thought about using magnification when you are airscribing? I can see in this video and a few of your others that you are leaving small marks in the bone from the scribes. The Field Museum in Chicago touts the use of magnification very heavily and I think a microscope would be a good tool to aid to your kit. Great suite of videos. Thanks.

[@texasfossilfinder7896]

Great video! What is the finish you use with the paint brush at the end of the video?

[@lightning4818]

Hey, have you ever prepared bones from Holzmaden?

[@PalaeoArt]

Yes, Holzmaden dates from the same Toarcian age and contains very similar species as the Yorkshire coast. I’ve prepped some Ichthyosaur material from there which was far easier as it was more laminated shales.

[@lightning4818]

@@PalaeoArt Nice to hear! Because Holzmaden is my main hunting spot. I found a couple nice bone clusters last year (still not prepared lol)

[@PalaeoArt]

Good luck. It’s great material to prep and such an awesome location to have on your doorstep.

[@lightning4818]

@@PalaeoArt Thank you! I could show you some pieces on Instagram, if you are interested

[@fossilwildlife5198]

@@lightning4818 Hey, another German fossil hunter here ✌🏼 I was in Holzmaden a few years ago but couldn't find great stuff (just ammonites, belemnites, wood, Posidonia-shells,...) The local museum is brilliant 😃

[@averyanderson8402]

I live in Arizona I find this mottled bone fossils. Most here belong to metaphasaurus... I'm not sure I spelled that right lol. I have put together a skull its a little more than half there. It's missing the snout.

[@aaronseidl5217]

So I belive I have some fossils and do not want to mess it up. Maybe you could help me.

[@yusufkargili5808]

İğne ile kuyu kazmak bu olsagerek.

[@PalaeoArt]

Thanks!