was totally inadequate to prevent the disintegration of the skeleton.
Even in a depositional environment where there are no currents to
erode or disperse the bones, they still show signs of becoming
completely disintegrated before the sediment could possibly cover
them. This is a paper which SUPPORTS the requirement for rapid
burial as one ingredient to successful fossilisation.
I don't understand this exchange. I thought that this was non-
controversial now that local catastrophes are acceptable to the
geologic community. There may be a few exceptions to the general
principle, but the taphonomy studies with which I am acquainted all
show that rapid covering of the animal, plant or trace is a basic
necessity for fossilisation.
Best wishes,
*** From David J. Tyler, CDT Department, Hollings Faculty,
Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.
Telephone: 0161-247-2636 ***