Brought in some assistance from the Foothill Anthropology’s Osteology Club, as well as from my colleague, Dan Cearley to help with the prepping and plastering today. Inside the cardboard box on the table, there sits the mammoth tusk just like you’ve seen in previous posts. We are prepping to line the walls and the top (for now) surface of the tusk with tinfoil. Creating a seal will keep the plaster from making contact with the tusk directly.
I have anticipated this day for sooooooooooooooo long. I never thought I’d have so many wonderful assistants to make this happen with me!
LET’S MAKE PLASTER!!
Sure, we had the option to wear gloves, but WHY!? Just wait till you scroll further & realize that it just LOOKS LIKE they’re wearing gloves!
I have a sneaking suspicion we’re going to be needing a weeee bit more than just that. But this is a great start!
Okay….One layer down….NEXT!…. (notice we laugh at the use of gloves now)
I have a sneaking suspicion that this again…will still not be enough plaster….
Sooooo…..Apparently playing in plaster brings back child-like joy. Not a bad side-effect!
But back to work! (bwahahahahahaha!)
We……are……DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And there was much rejoicing….
Ta da! Inception meets fruition!
Successful day! We’ll revisit this in a week, giving it time to set.
Tools used: 12 gallons of water, 30 pounds of plaster, the assistance of 3 students, 1 lab director, 1 lab researcher (me), 1 professor (aka, “adult supervision”…cough cough cough!), the mammoth tusk in its little plaster house, LOTS of tape (painters & duct), cardboard, plastic drop cloth, plastic containers and a good sense of humor.
Time in lab was about 3 hours.
*Pssssst!!!!….Next week, WE FLIP THE MAMMOTH!
