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THE IMPORTANCE OF REPRODUCTION FOSSILS

If the tallest dinosaur mount ever constructed first impresses you with the combined grace and gargantuan scale of Brachiosaurus, we'll forgive you. Not that we aren’t impressed as well. In fact, we at PaleoClones are quite fond of reproduction fossils, including this one of the giant behemoth Brachiosaurus.

That’s right. This famous dinosaur mount by the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago is composed entirely of replica bones cast from the original specimen.

Bet you won't notice that the first time you crook your neck to gaze at the giant creature's head, several stories up. Which just goes to show how convincing and accurate reproduction fossils can be. And how important they are to science.

For some very good reasons, scientists frequently work with replica fossils. First, original fossils are often extremely rare and difficult to obtain. This translates to great expense in time and money. Also, most fossils are not really bones at all. Dinosaur fossils, for example, are usually entirely petrified, or turned to stone. This means handling the brittle fossils can quickly deteriorate them and ruin their scientific value. Finally, fine quality casts weigh much less than the solid rock of which fossils are composed. Lightweight casts make impossible mounts like this one possible.

At the American Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian Institution, and countless other world famous natural history museums, reproduction fossils take center stage in dramatic and scientifically accurate exhibits. Institutions everywhere are replacing antiquated natural bone mounts with exciting new mounts created with reproduction fossils. There's simply no better solution than casts.

So while PaleoClones had no part in constructing the Field Museum’s Brachiosaurus we sure are proud to offer unique fossil replicas made in a similar fashion.

Now you too can own a museum quality reproduction fossil. Even if it’s not the tallest one in the world.


Note: The Field Museum Brachiosaurus was recently moved to the Chicago O'Hare Intl. Airport terminal to make room for Sue the T. rex. It remains the tallest dinosoaur skeleton in the world.

 


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