Reconstruction by Maëva J. Orliac | This is why I love taphonomy. A Miocene (92 Ma) rhinocerotid skull and jaw (Ceratotherium neumayri) was recently found in Turkey, preserved in volcanic rock, specifically, a pyroclastic flow! This is highly unusual, as the best conditions for preservation normally involve rapid burial or burial in low energy aqueous environments, in sedimentary rocks. Certainly not in a 1000°C pyroclastic flow, which appeared to be the case for this poor C. neumayri. So what happened? Antoine et al. (2012) examined the fossil and found evidence of 'baking' such as tooth brittleness and bone surface corrugations and cracks, suggesting the skull and jaw were not already fossilised before burial in the volcanic sediments. |
They also posit that the pyroclastic flow was a 'cooler' temperature (250–600°C), similar to those experienced at Pompeii in 79 AD. They therefore propose that the C. neumayri died in a 'cool' pyroclastic flow, and the carcass traveled for some distance resulting in disarticulation and the loss of skeletal elements. I, personally, would be hesitant to say that would be the only plausible scenario, as the C. neumayri may have perished and disarticulated long before being swept up and buried. But the fact that it was preserved at all under such conditions is amazing!
Taphonomic processes involved in the preservation of the skull and jaw (and partial rib). From Antoine et al. (2012)
References
Antoine, P-O., Orliac, M.J., Atici, G., Ulusoy, I., Sen, E., et al., 2012. A Rhinocerotid Skull Cooked-to-Death in a 9.2 Ma-Old Ignimbrite Flow of Turkey. PLoS ONE 7(11): e49997. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049997
Antoine, P-O., Orliac, M.J., Atici, G., Ulusoy, I., Sen, E., et al., 2012. A Rhinocerotid Skull Cooked-to-Death in a 9.2 Ma-Old Ignimbrite Flow of Turkey. PLoS ONE 7(11): e49997. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049997
