separated the museum from the research station lab. He stared at the huge white blocks of plastered fossils lying on the floor and on shelves that reached the ceiling on one side of the room. He was reading the display cards on the exposed fossils just inside the window, when Pederson and two other men joined him.
“Daniel, you already know Tim Tokaryk. And this is Mark Caswell.”
“Nice to see you again, Mr. Tokaryk,” said Daniel. He’d just seen him in the documentary and felt awed to be in his presence again. He’d also seen him a few times at the Edmontosaurus dig when he’d come out to help retrieve it, but Daniel hadn’t had an opportunity to spend much time with him there.
“Please call me Tim. I’m no different than I was last summer,” the well-known paleontologist offered, smiling. He seemed to have noticed Daniel’s reverence.
“And pleased to meet you, sir,” Daniel said to Mr. Caswell, shaking both men’s hands in turn.
“And I’m Mark,” Mr. Caswell said in an equally friendly manner.
“Thanks,” said Daniel.
They both looked curiously at the bandages on Daniel’s head.
“I fell against some rocks,” he said, feeling compelled to explain.
“During research?” Mark asked.
“Something like that,” Daniel answered, unwilling to describe the real reason.
“Paleontology does have its dangers,” Tim said.
Daniel pointed to the lab. “This is awesome!”
“Would you like to have a closer look?” asked Tim.
“As sure as T. rex es are carnivores!” Daniel replied, excited at the prospect of seeing the activities up close. Mr. Caswell excused himself, saying he had work to do back in his office. He shook their hands again.
“Please come any time, and if there’s anything we can do for you, we’d be happy to accommodate you. It’s always an honour to work with respected paleontologists,” said Mark, seeming to include Daniel in his compliment. Then he turned to answer a summons from one of the staff.
Daniel and Mr. Pederson followed Mr. Tokaryk back through the foyer, into an education room and through some doors that said “Staff Only.” Daniel wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but the paleontologist was no less friendly than he’d been out at their dig. Even in his formal setting, he was just a regular nice guy. Dark, compassionate eyes, glasses, a regular t-shirt and jeans; someone who took the time to talk to a kid! His face, framed by a receding hairline, Fu Manchu moustache, and a light beard, gave a welcoming, knowledgeable, and approachable presence. What a thrill to be in the working lab of the man who had spearheaded the T. rex dig!
As they entered the lab, Daniel noticed three work tables, each equipped with large, movable, lighted magnifiers, electrical drills, and a myriad of picks, tools, and brushes. They also were covered with fossils being worked on, and drawings and research information easily accessible at the fingertips of the scientists. A huge exhaust system wound through the room and out of the building.
Fossils, some exposed, and others wrapped in the typical burlap and coated with plaster like huge white rocks, were placed methodically on every conceivable shelf and counter of the spacious room. What was really neat was that visitors to the centre could watch the scientists at work through the glass partition.
Daniel felt privileged to be inside the lab and stood taking all the information in. Much of the equipment was similar to what Pederson had at his home and digs,
but this was far more sophisticated and fancy. Pederson seemed impressed too. He looked carefully at the tools, then headed towards the shelves with all the stored fossils.
“The only part of the T. rex we’ve prepared so far is the skull.” Tim Tokaryk pointed to the display at the front of the room. “It will take us years to do the whole thing. The skeleton is about sixty-five percent present, and is considered one of the most complete in the world to date.
“Daniel, you already know Tim Tokaryk. And this is Mark Caswell.”
“Nice to see you again, Mr. Tokaryk,” said Daniel. He’d just seen him in the documentary and felt awed to be in his presence again. He’d also seen him a few times at the Edmontosaurus dig when he’d come out to help retrieve it, but Daniel hadn’t had an opportunity to spend much time with him there.
“Please call me Tim. I’m no different than I was last summer,” the well-known paleontologist offered, smiling. He seemed to have noticed Daniel’s reverence.
“And pleased to meet you, sir,” Daniel said to Mr. Caswell, shaking both men’s hands in turn.
“And I’m Mark,” Mr. Caswell said in an equally friendly manner.
“Thanks,” said Daniel.
They both looked curiously at the bandages on Daniel’s head.
“I fell against some rocks,” he said, feeling compelled to explain.
“During research?” Mark asked.
“Something like that,” Daniel answered, unwilling to describe the real reason.
“Paleontology does have its dangers,” Tim said.
Daniel pointed to the lab. “This is awesome!”
“Would you like to have a closer look?” asked Tim.
“As sure as T. rex es are carnivores!” Daniel replied, excited at the prospect of seeing the activities up close. Mr. Caswell excused himself, saying he had work to do back in his office. He shook their hands again.
“Please come any time, and if there’s anything we can do for you, we’d be happy to accommodate you. It’s always an honour to work with respected paleontologists,” said Mark, seeming to include Daniel in his compliment. Then he turned to answer a summons from one of the staff.
Daniel and Mr. Pederson followed Mr. Tokaryk back through the foyer, into an education room and through some doors that said “Staff Only.” Daniel wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but the paleontologist was no less friendly than he’d been out at their dig. Even in his formal setting, he was just a regular nice guy. Dark, compassionate eyes, glasses, a regular t-shirt and jeans; someone who took the time to talk to a kid! His face, framed by a receding hairline, Fu Manchu moustache, and a light beard, gave a welcoming, knowledgeable, and approachable presence. What a thrill to be in the working lab of the man who had spearheaded the T. rex dig!
As they entered the lab, Daniel noticed three work tables, each equipped with large, movable, lighted magnifiers, electrical drills, and a myriad of picks, tools, and brushes. They also were covered with fossils being worked on, and drawings and research information easily accessible at the fingertips of the scientists. A huge exhaust system wound through the room and out of the building.
Fossils, some exposed, and others wrapped in the typical burlap and coated with plaster like huge white rocks, were placed methodically on every conceivable shelf and counter of the spacious room. What was really neat was that visitors to the centre could watch the scientists at work through the glass partition.
Daniel felt privileged to be inside the lab and stood taking all the information in. Much of the equipment was similar to what Pederson had at his home and digs,
but this was far more sophisticated and fancy. Pederson seemed impressed too. He looked carefully at the tools, then headed towards the shelves with all the stored fossils.
“The only part of the T. rex we’ve prepared so far is the skull.” Tim Tokaryk pointed to the display at the front of the room. “It will take us years to do the whole thing. The skeleton is about sixty-five percent present, and is considered one of the most complete in the world to date.
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