I can second that recommendation. I also saw those whales, and they really
looked very nice. No smell to speak of, clean, not damaged. They did
mention that it might be possible to "overcook" the smaller bones, so
recommended checking frequently. As I recall, one of the curators lived on
a farm, so they had the manure available, and took the whales to the manure.
I'd talk to the folks at the Burke.
Anne M. Jensen, PhD, RPA
PI, Nuvuk Archaeology Project
General Manager/Senior Scientist
UIC Science, LLC
Box 577
Barrow, AK 99723
907-852-0924 (office and messages), 907-852-0931 (Nuvuk Lab), 907-852-5763
(fax), 907-230-8228 (cell), ajatnuvuk (Skype)
Replies to: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Don O'Meara
Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2012 11:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: preparing whale bones
Julie,
if you look back on the zooarch pages from the 18th of July (on the topic
bone degreasing problems) Christyann Darwent sent a message to Pam Cross
about degreasing bones. He mentions work at the Burke Museum in Seattle
where they have been burying whales in large compost piles of manure and
wood chips. He mentions there is little smell and they come out clean.
It might be worth considering if your neighbours don't mind a little compost
heap.
Don.
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