[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Subject Index][Author Index]
Re: new
John Hunt wrote:
I did realise the microraptor fossils were dead, fossils normally are.
Point taken. But bones can be rearranged or dislocated before or during
burial. Thus, postures adopted by specimens in death may not reflect
postures that the animal was capable of in life. I was responding to this
earlier message, from you:
If the preserved posture could not be achieved in life, then an explanation
as to how articulated specimens came to be preserved in this way needs to
be forthcoming.
Your comment seemed to imply that the burden of proof was on those who
argued *against* a sprawling posture for _Microraptor_, because certain
specimens were preserved in a sprawling posture. I argued that the
sprawling posture might in fact be an artefact of preservation.
What we're talking about here is taphonomy, the science of the conditions
and processes by which organisms become fossilized.
How would anyone come to be buried with their feet over their head without
human intervention?
Again, this comes under the heading of taphonomy. Without getting too
macabre, my corpse could be torn apart by predators, and/or my skeleton
rearranged by the action of water or mud or scavengers such that my foot
bones end up above my skull. I can only hope that my final repose will be
not quite so eventful.
Tim
_________________________________________________________________
Is your PC infected? Get a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfee®
Security. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963