The Gomphothere (elephant-like proboscidean):
Rynchotherium edense

Dentary, right and left with m3 and left lower tusk – also known as, the jaws

Discovery

November 13th, 2016

Vertebrate Paleontology Curator, Jonathan Bloch, first uncovers the back of the jaw.
The back portion of the right dentary (the left side is most likely under it). Florida Museum photo by Jonathan Bloch
More of the right dentary exposed, showing the tusk! Florida Museum photo by Jonathan Bloch

Exposure

The area around the specimen is being worked down, so that it is higher than the ground around it. This allows us to create a plaster jacket, like a bowl, and flip the specimen out of the ground. Florida Museum photo by Rachel Narducci
Pedestaled a bit more. Florida Museum photo by Rob Ulmer.
A close up. Florida Museum photo by Rob Ulmer.

Journey out of the site

December 5th, 2016

Preparing for the flip. The cargo net is in place and they are deciding the best area to place the strap.
Four legs will push as the others’ arms pull.
It’s heavy…
Half way there!
Checking for exposed bone
Clearing out excess matrix to lighten the load
Clearing out excess matrix to lighten the load
Preparing the vehicle
The now flipped jacket in the dig site
And the heavy trek out of the site begins
7 individuals working together to remove this large jacket
Watch the step!
And the trench
It’s feeling even heavier…
Turning towards the truck…
Is it time for a short break?
Examining the last leg
Examining the truck bed
Break time
The lift!
Up…
Can they do it?
I think they can!
Success!!!

Thank you so much to volunteer Susan Swartz, for capturing this series of photos and sharing them with us! It’s amazing to see how this process works and the incredible effort made by all.

Back at the lab

The plaster jacket containing our gomphothere jaws made it into the lab on the same day it was removed, December 5th, 2016.

Gomphothere jaw jacket in the lab
Gomphothere jaw jacket in the lab

 

… and waited patiently until after the holiday break for preparations to begin around January 16th, 2017.

  • Preparation begins and the underside of the specimen exposed
    Preparation begins and the underside of the specimen exposed
  • Gomphothere mandibles prep work.
    Gomphothere prep progress after one week

By the way, as you can see in the pictures above, the plaster jacket was still too heavy for a table and had to remain on the floor of the lab.

Our dedicated preparator, Ariel Bowman, kept working away until it was light enough to move!

Ariel Bowman caught in the act!
And the specimen makes its way onto a table!

The Grand Finale

View of the right dentary.
See the left tusk. In life, there would’ve been another tusk next to this, and another two coming out of the skull; 4 in total.
View of the left dentary.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped with the discovery, exposing, flipping, removing, picture taking, and preparing. It is greatly appreciated and this would not have been possible without the team effort!