"Reviving Ancient Beasts: Fossil Preparators Prepare Peabody for Reopening"
The Yale Peabody Museum is set to reopen this spring after a major renovation, featuring a revamped dinosaur gallery with refurbished and reposed specimens. Fossil preparators have played a crucial role in bringing ancient creatures to life, such as the 200-million-year-old Poposaurus and the nimble Deinonychus. Their work involves excavating, preserving, and reconstructing fossils, including creating missing pieces based on existing fossils. The preparators' expertise and artistic techniques have been instrumental in readying the museum's fossil specimens for public display, showcasing the importance of their role in the museum's scientific and educational missions.