[Explanation] There are more than 100 fossil sites in the Hezheng area of Gansu, and more than 30,000 fossil specimens have been discovered and collected. It is the region with the most abundant mammal fossils in China and even the entire Eurasian continent.
Fossils in this area record the evolution of ancient animals from 30 million years ago to more than 1 million years ago, and are far from real "paleontology".
Most recently, he is a paleontological fossil restorer.
Recently, the reporter came to the Hezheng Ancient Animal Fossil Museum. Zhang Lu, a paleontological fossil restorer, and his colleagues are cleaning up the rocks on the fossils, gradually unveiling the veil of ancient life.
Zhang Lu told reporters that restoring fossils is not as simple as digging them out of the ground. It is as simple as installing the skeleton. First, you must understand the location of the buried stratum of the fossils, and you must also be familiar with the texture features. You cannot cut them arbitrarily.
[Concurrent] Zhang Lu, a paleontological fossil restorer at Hezheng Paleozoic Fossil Museum
The strength (used during repair) is that the hardness and softness of the fossils are different according to the burial strata of the fossils. If the surrounding rock of the fossil is particularly hard, it will take several months to repair, and the (soft surrounding rock) will be slightly sticky. Pour water, and repair it slowly and gradually. If the force is too strong, the fossils will be easily damaged, which requires our restorers to calm down.
[Explanation] Zhang Lu has been engaged in the restoration of paleontological fossils for 19 years and has restored various types of fossils. In his opinion, restoration of fossils sometimes takes several years or even longer. Although the process is tedious and tedious, the restored fossils, The scientific research value and exhibition value are immeasurable.
Zhang Lu's team is all male. Zhang Lu said that this is the characteristic of the restoration of paleontological fossils.
[Concurrent] Zhang Lu, a paleontological fossil restorer at Hezheng Paleozoic Fossil Museum
The work of our restorers is quite tedious, and (also) laborious. When we encounter a small fossil, we can take it lightly with our hands. If we encounter a large fossil, we need six or seven male comrades to lift and (jointly) restore it.
Coupled with the (previously) limited restoration conditions, lesbians are reluctant to come to the restoration room.
[Explanation] On the restoration workbench, in addition to the restoration tools such as fossil clods, carving pens, brushes, etc., there are also saw blades.
In this regard, Zhang Youhui, a paleontological fossil restorer, explained that when restoring fossils, like a stonemason, he will hammer off the surrounding rocks with a hammer, but when cleaning deep rocks, self-made tools can easily solve the sand on the fossil curve. .
[Same period] Zhang Youhui, a restorer of paleontological fossils at Hezheng Paleozoic Fossil Museum
Some tools, such as this awl, are straight, and the needle can only go straight up and down.
Where there is an arc, this kind of bend (homemade tool) is needed.
(Yes) Good operability and easy access to materials (and other advantages).
[Explanation] Chen Shanqin, the former deputy curator of the Hezheng Ancient Animal Fossil Museum, said in an exclusive interview with reporters that the restoration and study of paleontological fossils has reference significance for the study of human origins.
[Concurrent] Chen Shanqin, former deputy curator of Hezheng Ancient Animal Fossil Museum
The specimens in the Hezheng Ancient Animal Fossil Museum are mainly mammals, and the living environment of humans is closely related to the evolution and living environment of animals. Therefore, from a broad perspective, the study of animals is closely related to (research) (the origin of) people.
Ai Qinglong's Gansu Hezheng Report
Responsible editor: [Ji Xiang]