Taphonomy: A resource guide - Carol Smith Home Page

Taphonomy: 

A resource guide 

Smith 1 

Carol Smith 

Info 674 – resources in science / tech 

Fall, 2005 

Submitted December 4, 2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS 


INTRODUCTION TO TAPHONOMY 4 

Discipline Overview 4 

Resource Guide Scope 4 

Subject Keywords 5 

Library Of Congress Subject Headings 5 

Library Of Congress Classification Numbers 6 

Dewey Decimal Classification Numbers 6 

MONOGRAPHS (KEY TEXTS) 6 

REFERENCE WORKS 9 

Atlases and Maps 9 

Bibliographies 9 

Catalogs 10 

Dictionaries and Glossaries 10 

Directories 12 

Directories of Individuals 12 

Directories of Organizations 12 

Directories of Collections 13 

Encyclopedias 13 

GUIDES AND HANDBOOKS 14 

Fossil Guides 14 

Regional Field Guides 14 

Handbooks 15 

ABSTRACTING AND INDEXING SERVICES 16 

ACADEMIC JOURNALS 19 

Core Journals 19 

Other Significant Journals 21 

SELECTED ARTICLES 22 

Highly Cited Articles 22 

Key Literature Reviews 22 

Background and Seminal Articles 23 

Dedicated Journal Issues 24


CONFERENCES AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS 25 

Major Conferences and Associated Proceedings 25 

Additional Published Proceedings 28 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS 29 

Dissertations and Theses 29 

Government Publications 30 

E-print and Preprint Repositories 31 

ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS 31 

Associations And Professional Societies 31 

Government Agencies 33 

Private Research Centers 33 

CURRENT AWARENESS 34 

Electronic Newsletters 34 

Table Of Contents Service 35 

Grants 35 

Employment 37 

DISCUSSION GROUPS 38 

Listservs 38 

Usenet Newsgroups 39 

INTERNET RESOURCES 40 

Informative Web Sites 40 

Museum Collections 40 

Databases 41 

Gateways and Search Engines 43 

Cover image credit 

The Virtual Fossil Museum. Cathayornis yandica Fossil Bird from Liaoning China. Retrieved 

November 12, 2005, from http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Fossil- 

Pictures/Birds/Cathayornis-yandica/Cathayornis-yandica.htm

INTRODUCTION TO TAPHONOMY 

Discipline Overview 


Taphonomy is the study of the processes impacting an organism between the time of its 

death and its later discovery. The term ‘taphonomy’ was first coined in 1940 by Russian 

paleontologist Ivan Efremov, and modern taphonomy is traditionally dated back to this 

time. It is best known as the branch of paleontology that examines fossilization processes, 

but also has application in archaeology, forensics and other sciences. 

The two major sub-disciplines of taphonomy are biostratinomy and diagenesis. 

Biostratinomic studies address the necrolysis, disarticulation, body transportation and 

subsequent burial processes, while diagenesis focuses on the physical and chemical effects of 

burial on an organism’s remains. 

The information derived from taphonomic studies can contribute to our knowledge of an 

organism’s morphology, geographic distribution and behavior patterns. It can also enhance 

our understanding of historical environments, and providing insights for many broader 

disciplines, including archaeology, paleontology and geology. Paleoecology, paleobotany, 

paleobiology and sedimentology are all examples of specializations that actively employ 

taphonomic studies. 

Applied scientific methodologies include actualistic and comparative taphonomy. Actualistic 

taphonomists study contemporary taphonomic patterns in the biosphere, and attempts to 

extrapolate findings to the historic fossil record. Such studies can be observational or 

experimental/simulated in nature. Comparative taphonomy seeks an enhanced 

understanding of an organism through the comparison of cross-taxa taphonomic 

differences. 

The first journal dedicated exclusively to the study of taphonomy debuted just two years ago, 

and the field is enjoying a resurgence thanks to a new emphasis on information that is gained 

rather than lost as a result of taphonomic processes. Despite this increased attention, 

taphonomy is still considered to be an emerging scientific discipline. Precise taphonomic 

methodologies for describing fossil assemblages are still needed, for example, and the field 

lacks a comprehensive bibliography. Further, because taphonomy is so inter-disciplinary in 

nature, taphonomic studies and data are widely scattered in resources relating to broader 

fields. It is therefore hoped that this subject resource guide will help fill an existing 

information gap, and prove useful to taphonomists and other interested scientists. 

Resource Guide Scope 

This resource guide emphasizes English-language taphonomy resources relating to 

paleontology, but also includes a small number of major taphonomic resources in the fields 

of archaeology and forensics. It is hoped that future editions of the resource guide will 

expand the number of taphonomic resources in these disciplines.


Additionally, because much taphonomic work involves fossil discovery and identification, 

relevant resources are included to assist the taphonomist with locating and classifying 

taphonomic materials, both in the field and within collections. 

✮ Particularly exceptional resources for the taphonomist are noted with a ✮ symbol. 

Subject Keywords 

The following terms may prove useful when searching for resources in taphonomy: 

Abrasion 

Actualistic paleontology / 

Actuopaleontology 

Actualistic taphonomy 

Articulation 

Assemblages 

Bioerosion 

Biostratigraphy 

Biostratinomy 

Bioturbation 

Carbonization 

Comparative taphonomy 

Diagenesis 

Disarticulation 

Dissolution 

Forensic taphonomy 

Fossilization 

Library Of Congress Subject Headings 

Taphonomy 

BT Paleontology 

NT Forensic taphonomy 

Fossilization 

Fossils 

RT Paleontology 

NT Amber fossils 

Animals, Fossil 

Plants, Fossil 

Trace fossils 

Fragmentation 

Incrustation / Encrustation 

Laggerstätten 

Microtaphonomy 

Mineralization 

Necrolysis 

Paleontology / Palaeontology (U.K.) 

Quantitative taphonomy 

Soft-tissue preservation 

Sedimentology 

Stratigraphy 

Taphograms 

Taphonomy 

Taphofacies / Taphomic facies 

Trace Fossils 

Time-averaging 

Uniformitarianism

Library Of Congress Classification Numbers 

Subject-specific classification numbers: 

QE721.2.F6 Fossilization, Taphonomy 

Z6033.P2 Fossils 

RA1063.47 Forensic Taphonomy 

QE721 Geology--Paleontology--Special aspects of the subject as a whole 

Broader classes of interest: 

QE640 - QE699 Stratigraphy 

QE701 - QE760 Paleontology 

QE760.8 - QE899.2 Paleozoology 

QE901 - QE996.5 Paleobotany 

Z6033.A-Z6033.Z Paleontology (reference) 

Dewey Decimal Classification Numbers 

Class Caption 

560 Paleontology and paleozoology 

560.17 Stratigraphic paleontology, paleozoology (may be 

further classified by geological era) 

560.41 Fossilization (Taphonomy) 

560.43 Trace fossils 

561.3-561.9 Fossils, specific plants and groups of plants 

562-569 Fossils, specific taxonomic groups of animals 

MONOGRAPHS (KEY TEXTS) 


Allison, P.A., and Briggs, D.E.G. (1991). Taphonomy: releasing the data locked in the 

fossil record. Topics in Geobiology, 9. New York: Plenum Press. 

Not reviewed. A widely cited text of the early 1990’s. 

Bottjer, D.J., Etter, W., Hagadorn, J.W., and Tang, C.M. (Eds.). (2002). Exceptional fossil 

preservation: a unique view on the evolution of marine life. New York: 

Columbia University Press. 

Part of a series entitled “Critical Moments and Perspectives in Earth History and 

Paleobiology”, this collection of research papers explores the taphonomic


significance of premiere marine Fossil Lagerstätten sites. Lagerstätten are deposits of 

exceptionally preserved fossils that still exhibit soft-tissue remains. Fewer than 1,000 

such sites have been identified worldwide. 

Brain, C.K. (1981). The hunters or the hunted? An introduction to African cave 

taphonomy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 

A highly cited taphonomic study of bone assemblages in African caves. Provides 

guidance on interpreting bone assemblages in caves, and presents an analysis and 

interpretation of Sterkfontein Valley Caves as a case study. Applicable to both the 

archaeological and paleontological disciplines. 

Brett, C.E., and Speyer, S.E. (2005). Comparative Taphonomy: Pattern and Processes in 

Fossil Preservation. Oxford University Press. 

Not reviewed. Forthcoming publication, to be released November 2005. Place of 

publication not provided. 

Brett, C.E., and Baird, G.C. (Eds.). (1997). Paleontological events: stratigraphic, 

ecological, and evolutionary implications. New York: Columbia University Press. 

Unique taphonomic conditions or ecological events can result in thin stratigraphic 

intervals of extraordinary fossil taxa. This collection of papers reviews Fossil 

Lagerstätten and epiboles, two particular types of stratigraphic events, and their 

significance for taphonomic studies. 

Bromley, R.G. (1990). Trace fossils: biology and taphonomy. London: Unwin Hyman. 

Trace fossils are any fossilized evidence of an organism’s activities, including 

footprints, tracks and burrows. Whereas most studies of trace fossils emphasize a 

geological approach, this work examines the biological and taphonomic implications 

of the trace fossil record. 

✮ Donovan, S.K. (Ed). (1991). The processes of fossilization. New York: Columbia 

University Press. 

The collected essays in this book fall into two major sections – an overview of the 

history of taphonomic studies, and discussions of the distinct taphonomic processes 

of different categories of organisms, such as trilobites, plants, vertebrates and softbodied 

animals. A wealth of illustrations and extensive chapter references make this a 

useful starting point for exploring many topics in taphonomy.

Ginsburg, R.N. (1973). Evolving Concepts in Sedimentology. Baltimore, MD: Johns 

Hopkins University Press. 


A dated work, but one that contains an excellent section on biostratinomic processes 

✮ Lyman, R.L. (1994). Vertebrate taphonomy. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University 

Press. 

Considered a primary textbook for many university courses on vertebrate 

taphonomy. The author provides comprehensive coverage of historical, theoretical 

and practical aspects of the discipline, as it relates to vertebrate organisms. Highly 

recommended as an introductory text to the subject. 

✮ Martin, R.E. (1999). Taphonomy: A process approach. Cambridge, England: New 

York: Cambridge University Press. 

This volume aims to cover the entire discipline of taphonomy, as it relates to both 

plant and animal fossils, in both oceanic and terrestrial environments. A process 

approach is emphasized, stressing its application in associated disciplines. A section 

devoted to taphonomic laws, rules and classification models is of particular interest, 

as it is a topic not treated in equal depth elsewhere. 

Micozzi, M.S. (1991). Postmortem change in human and animal remains: A systematic 

approach. Springfield, IL: C.C. Thomas. 

Excerpt from author’s introductory synopsis: “This book provides a unique, 

synthetic treatment of postmortem change presented in a systematic fashion with 

attention to the relative chronologies of both physical and cultural factors that 

influence human and animal remains. The author integrates reports and observations 

in the anthropology /archaeology literature with material as appropriate from 

medicine, pathology, paleopathology, ethnography and the forensic sciences (cover)” 

Shipman, P. (1981). Life history of a fossil: an introduction to taphonomy and 

paleoecology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. 

Not reviewed. A widely cited text on taphonomy. Still used in undergraduate 

taphonomy courses today.

REFERENCE WORKS 

Atlases and Maps 


Ocean Drilling Stratigraphic Network (1998). ODSN Fossil Distribution Plotting Service. 

Retrieved November 9, 2005, from 

http://www.odsn.de/odsn/services/plot_dist.html 

Allows a user to plot the distribution of more than 5.000 kinds of marine fossils, 

using data and world maps from the GEOMAR Research Center for Marine 

Geosciences. 

Scotese, C.R. (2002). PALEOMAP Project. Retrieved November 11, 2005, from 

http://www.scotese.com/ 

Created as a PhD project at the University of Chicago, these paleogeographical 

atlases are still developed and maintained by the original developer, Christopher 

Cortese. Provides animated models of plate tectonic and climactic reconstructions 

from all time periods. Useful in the understanding of fossil distribution patterns. 

U.S. Geological Survey (2005). USGS Web Site. Retrieved November 20, 2005, from 

http://www.usgs.gov/search/ 

The U.S. Geological Survey, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, 

provides reliable scientific information in the Earth Sciences, including numerous 

maps, publication and data relating to major fossils deposits. A large web site, 

resources of interest are most easily located using the web site’s comprehensive 

search function. 

Bibliographies 

✮ Koch, C.P. (1989). Taphonomy: a bibliographic guide to the literature. Orono, ME: 

Center for the Study of the First Americans, Institute for Quaternary Studies, 

University of Maine. 

A taphonomic guide for researchers in the disciplines of archaeozoology, 

paleoanthropology, and paleontology. The guide provides more than 1,200 

bibliographic entries, in addition to author and topical indexes.


Beisaw, April M. (2005). Annotated Bibliography of Taphonomy. Retrieved November 

15, 2005, from 

http://www.geocities.com/abeisaw/Taphonomy/annotatedbibpart1.html 

An Internet-based bibliography maintained by April M. Beisaw, an independent 

zooarchaelogist with expertise in taphonomic analysis. Although the bibliography 

emphasizes zooarchaeological resources, it also includes resources related to 

paleontological and forensic taphonomy. Updated as recently as July 2005. 

Damuth, J. (2003). The Bibliography of Fossil Vertebrates (BFV Online). Retrieved 

November 18, 2005, from http://www.bfvol.org/ 

Catalogs 

A web-based counterpart of a now defunct print series published by the Society of 

Vertebrate Paleontology. Contains 131,190 references to resources published 

between the years 1509-1968 and 1981-1993, including literature related to 

taphonomic studies. Site requires specialized query formation; instructions are 

provided. 

Print equivalent: Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Bibliography of fossil vertebrates. 

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology: Northbrook, IL. Series. Publication: irregular. 

Lewis, S.E., and Heikes, P.M. (1991). A catalog of fossil sites from the tertiary of the 

United States. St. Cloud, MN: St. Cloud State University. 

Not reviewed. 487-page catalog with maps. The Tertiary period lasted from the end 

of the Cretaceous period about 65.5 million years ago to the start of the Quaternary 

period about 1.6 million years ago. 

Dictionaries and Glossaries 

Allaby, A., and Allaby, M. (1999). A dictionary of earth sciences. Oxford Reference 

Online Premium. Oxford: Oxford University Press. [Subscription database] 

Contains approximately 6,000 entries covering a wide range of earth science topics, 

including paleontology. Definition terms are hyperlinked, facilitating navigation. 

Available in both print and electronic formats. 

Access: Oxford Reference Online Premium database is available 

via Drexel University’s Hagerty Library subscription.


Bromley, R.G. (1990). Trace fossils: biology and taphonomy. London: Unwin Hyman. 

An excellent glossary of taphonomic terms is included in this text. 

Burgess, R. (1972). Dictionary of vertebrate paleontology: a compilation of the 

glossaries of paleontology and related sciences. Unpublished manuscript. 

Not reviewed. This manuscript is held by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, 

D.C. 701 leaves in length. 

Lyman, R.L. (1994). Vertebrate taphonomy. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University 

Press. 

Text includes a 14-page glossary of taphonomic terms. 

Parker, S.P. (ed.). (2003). McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Earth Science. Second edition. New 

York: McGraw-Hill. 

Includes more than 10,000 essential terms covering every discipline of the earth 

sciences, including paleontology. Synonyms, acronyms, and abbreviations are 

provided. Available in both print and electronic subscription form. 

Electronic Access: eBrary [Subscription database]. Palo Alto, CA: ebrary, 

Inc. Available via Drexel University’s Hagerty 

Library subscription. 

Sinibaldi, R.W. (1999). The handbook of paleontological terms. St. Petersburg, FL: R.W. 

Sinibaldi. 

Not reviewed. A 58-page, self-published glossary of paleontological terms. 

U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (1999). Paleontology 

Glossary of Terms. Retrieved November 6, 2005, from 

http://geology.er.usgs.gov/paleo/glossary.shtml 

Includes major terms likely to be encountered in taphonomy resources. 

The Virtual Fossil Museum (2002). Glossary of Scientific Terminology Related to Fossils. 


http://www.fossilmuseum.net/Fossil%20Museum%20Scientific%20Glossary.htm 

A glossary of fossil terms.

Directories 

Directories of Individuals 

American Quaternary Association (1995). Directory of North American Quaternary 

Scientists. United States: AMQUA. 


Directory includes active, employed scientists, as well retired but still-active 

Quaternary researchers who reside in the United States. Membership in AMQUA is 

not required for directory listing. Quaternary researchers include all scientists that 

study the last 2 million years of Earth history, including paleontologists and 

taphonomy specialists. Directory was originally published by Academic Press, Inc., in 

the July 1995 issue of Quaternary Research (v 44, no. 11). An up-to-date version of 

this print directory is now available electronically: 

Web access: http://www3.nau.edu/amqua/search-db.html 

Doescher, R.A. (ed.). (1989). Directory of Paleontologists of the World. Fifth edition. 

Washington, D.C.: International Palaeontological Association. 

A 447-page guide to professional paleontologists worldwide. Membership in the 

International Palaeontological Society is not required for inclusion in the directory. 

An up-to-date version of the directory is now available in electronic form: 

Web access: http://ipa.geo.ku.edu:591/Directory/ 

Directories of Organizations 

American Association of Museums. The Official Museum Directory 2005. Washington, 

DC: American Association of Museums. Biennial publication. 1971- 

Not reviewed. 

Tinsley, E.J., and Hollander, J.P. (1984). Worldwide directory of national earth-science 

agencies and related international organizations: a listing of governmental 

earth-science agencies and selected major international organizations whose 

functions are similar to those of the U.S. Geological Survey. Washington: U.S. 

Government Printing Office. 

Not reviewed.

Directories of Collections 

International Paleontological Association (2004). Fossil Collections of the World: An 

International Guide. Retrieved November 5, 2005, from 

http://ipa.geo.ku.edu:591/Fossil/ 


An Internet-based directory of worldwide fossil collections held by museums, 

academic institutions and departments, and other organizations. Directory may be 

searched geographically or by specific institution. There is no print equivalent. 

Encyclopedias 

Currie, P.J., and Padian, K. (eds.). (1997). Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs. San Diego: 

Academic Press. 

Pertinent articles include but are not limited to ‘Taphonomy’ (author: Fiorillo, A.R.) 

and ‘Biostratigraphy’ (author: Lucas, S.G.). Entries include reference citations. 

McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology Online (2004). McGraw-Hill 

AccessScience subscription database. 

Devoted section on paleontology includes a bibliography, a topical study guide, 

biographies of paleontologists, a geological time scale, and encyclopedic articles on 

such topics as ‘Taphonomy’ and ‘Trace Fossils’. 

Electronic access: McGraw-Hill AccessScience subscription database.Available 

via Drexel University’s Hagerty Library. For more database 

information, visit http://www.accessscience.com/. 

Singer, R. (ed.). (1999). Encyclopedia of Paleontology. Chicago: Fitzroy Dearborn. 2 

volumes (vol. 1: A-L; vol. 2 M-X). 

Includes relevant entries entitled ‘Fossilization Processes’ (author: Davis, P.G.), 

‘Taphonomy’ (author: Davis, P.G.), and ‘Sedimentology’ (author: Webb, M.W.). 

Entries include references citations and suggestions for further reading.

GUIDES AND HANDBOOKS 

Fossil Guides 


Arduini, P., and Giorgio Teruzzi; Horenstein, S., editor (1986). Simon & Schuster’s guide 

to fossils. New York: Simon & Schuster. 

Introduction includes sections on fossilization processes and taphonomy. Provides 

280 color photographs of significant plant and animal fossils, including their 

stratigraphic position and geographical distribution. 

✮ Mayr, H. (1992). A guide to fossils. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 

This field guide to fossil identification includes over 500 color photographs, with 

concise descriptions of fossil structure, stratigraphic and geographic distribution, and 

fossilization conditions. Includes introductory discussions on the formation, 

emplacement and preservation of fossils. 

Thompson, I. (1982). National Audubon Society field guide to North American fossils. 

New York: Knopf. 

An all-photographic field guide to the fossils of North America (north of Mexico). 

Includes nearly 500 full-color photographs identifying fossils of all types, as well as 

fossil-bearing sediments and common fossil outcrop formations. 

Regional Field Guides 

Regional taphonomy field guides are often published as the outcome of field trips associated with a society’s 

annual meeting. A small sample of available guides. 

Darby, D.A. (1983). Sedimentology, diagenesis and stratigraphy of pleistocene coastal 

deposits in southeastern Virginia. Norfolk, VA: Old Dominion University. 

Field trip associated with the Fifteenth annual Virginia Geologic Field Conference, 

November 12, 1983. 

Flessa, K.W., (ed.). (1987). Paleoecology and taphonomy of recent to Pleistocene 

intertidal deposits, Gulf of California. Washington, DC: Paleontological Society. 

“Prepared for Field Trip Number 5 sponsored by the Geological Society of America 

and the Paleontological Society at their joint annual meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, 

1987.”


Wilson, J.R. (1992). Taphonomy of an Allosaurus quarry in the deposits of a Late 

Jurassic braided river with a gravel-sand bedload, Salt Wash Member of the 

Morrison Formation, Dinosaur National Monument, Utah. Field Guide to 

Geological Excursions in Utah and Adjacent Areas of Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming. 

Publication 92-3, pp. 375-381. Salt Lake City, UT: Utah Geological Survey 

“Prepared for the Geological Society of America, Rocky Mountain Section Meeting 

in Ogden, Utah, May 13-15, 1992.” 

Additional regional field guides and guidebooks may be located using: 

American Geological Institute (2005. Geologic Guidebooks of North America. Retrieved 

November 18, 2005, from http://guide.georef.org/dbtw-wpd/guidens.htm 

Handbooks 

Converse, H.H., McCarty, R. (1994). Handbook of paleo-preparation techniques. Third 

edition. Gainesville, FL: Florida Paleontological Society. 

Illustrated guide to fossils collection and preservation techniques. 

✮ Goldring, R. (1991). Fossils in the field: information potential and analysis. New 

York: Longman Scientific & Technical. 

A process-oriented guide for fossil collection and site analysis that includes a chapter 

devoted to taphonomic methods in the field. Includes numerous flow charts and 

tables correlating field observations with stratigraphic and taphonomic implications. 

Taphonomy of trace fossils, plant fossils, soft-bodied and vertebrate animals are 

treated individually. 

Lichter, G. (1993). Fossil collector's handbook: finding, identifying, preparing, 

displaying. New York: Sterling Publishing. 

Illustrated guide to the paleontological tools and methods used to collect, preserve 

and record fossil specimens. 

MacDonald, J.R. (1983). The fossil collector's handbook: a paleontology field guide. 

Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 

Not reviewed.

ABSTRACTING AND INDEXING SERVICES 

Applied Science & Technology Full Text. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company. 

[subscription database] 


This extensive index covers a wide range of resource types. Although the index stresses the 

applied sciences, all areas of science and technology are included. Topic coverage includes 

paleontology, taphonomy, and other related areas. Covers more than 400 scientific journals. 

Dates covered: 1983 to present 

File size: Over 1.3 million records 

Update frequency: Monthly (approximately 5,000 records per update) 

Electronic access: 1. Web-based access provided via WilsonWeb 

OmniFile database. Available via Drexel University’s 

Hagerty Library subscription. More information: 

http://www.library.drexel.edu/resources/dbinfo/applieds 

ciwilson.html 

2. Dialog subscription database, file 99 (Cary, NC: The 

Dialog Corporation). Abstracts only. Accessible with 

librarian assistance. More information: 

http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0099.html 

Print counterparts: Wilson Applied Science & Technology Index 

BioOne. Washington, D.C.: BioOne. [subscription database] 

BioOne provides full-text access to nearly 70 academic journals in the biosciences, and 

emphasizes journals of small publishers that were previously only available in print form. 

Indexed journals of relevance include but are not limited to the Journal of Paleontology, 

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Micropaleontology, Paleobiology, 

Dates covered: 2000 to present (older publications will be gradually added) 

Electronic access: Web-based access available via Drexel University’s Hagerty 

Library subscription.

GeoArchive – Oxon, U.K.: Geosystems. [subscription database] 


GeoArchive is a comprehensive database covering multiple information sources in 

geoscience, hydroscience, and environmental science. Topic coverage includes paleontology 

and stratigraphy. Provides international coverage of over 5,000 journals, books from over 

2,000 publishers, geological maps, and doctoral dissertations. Also includes conference 

proceedings, technical reports and maps. 

Dates Covered: 1974 to present 

File Size: Over 893,879 records as of September 2005 

Update Frequency: Monthly (approximately 1,000 records per update) 

Electronic access: Dialog subscription database, file 58(Cary, NC: The Dialog 

Corporation). Accessible with librarian assistance. More 

information: 

http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0058.html - PE 

Print counterparts: Geotitles Weekly 

Geocom Weekly 

Geocom Bulletin 

Geoscience Documentation 

Bibliography of Vertebrate 

Paleontology 

GeoBase – Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier B.V, [subscription database] 

GeoBase covers research literature in physical and human geography, earth and 

environmental sciences, ecology, and related disciplines, including paleontology and 

stratigraphy. Special emphasis is placed on international and non-English publications, 

providing access to information resources not available elsewhere. Database covers 

approximately 5,000 scientific and technical journals, with approximately 100,000 new 

records are added annually. 


File Size: Over 1,311,101 records as of June 2004 

Update Frequency: Biweekly 

Electronic Access: Dialog subscription database, file 292 (Cary, NC: The 

Dialog Corporation). Accessible with librarian 

assistance. More information: 

http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0292.ht 

ml 

Print counterparts: Geographical Abstracts: Physical Geography 

Geographical Abstracts: Human Geography 

Geological Abstracts 

Ecological Abstracts 

International Development Abstracts 

Geomechanics Abstracts 

Oceanographic Literature Review

✮ GeoRefS – Alexandria, VA: American Geological Institute. [subscription database] 


The premier database of bibliographic materials in geology and other earth sciences, 

including the paleontological sciences. GeoRefS was established by the American Geological 

Institute in 1966, and currently provides access to over 2.5 million references to articles, 

books, maps, conference papers, reports and theses. Over 25,000 individual sources are 

represented. All U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) publications are included. 

Dates Covered: 1785 to the present (North American material); 

1933 to the present (worldwide material) 

File Size: Over 2.6 million records. 

Update Frequency: Biweekly (approximately 3,000 records per update) 

Electronic Access: 1. Subscription web access provided via FirstSearch/OCLC. 

Available via Drexel University’s Hagerty Library 

subscription. More information: 

http://www.oclc.org/support/documentation/firstsearch/ 

databases/dbdetails/details/GeoRefS.htm 

2. Dialog subscription database (file 89). Accessible with 

librarian assistance. More information: 

http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0089.html 

Print Counterparts: Bibliography and Index of North American Geology 

Bibliography of Theses in Geology 

Geophysical Abstracts 

Bibliography and Index of Geology Exclusive of North 

America 

Bibliography and Index of Geology 

More information: http://www.agiweb.org/georef/ 

✮ ISI Web of Science – Philadelphia, PA: Thomson Scientific. [subscription database] 

Web of Science provides access to approximately 8,700 research journals in the arts and 

humanities, sciences and social sciences. Unique to ISI, the citation index allows forward and 

backward citation searching. Result sets may be sorted by number of times an article is cited, 

allowing a researcher to quickly identify key research in their discipline of interest. A search 

on the term ‘taphonom*’ currently yields over 1,600 results. 

Electronic Access: Via Drexel University’s Hagerty Library subscription. 

Print Counterparts Arts & Humanities Citation Index (DU Indexes 1977-1984) 

Social Sciences Citation Index (Hagerty does not have) 

Science Citation Index (DU Indexes 1961-1994) 

More information: http://scientific.thomson.com/products/wos/

ACADEMIC JOURNALS 

Core Journals 


A source title analysis conducted via the ISI Web of Science Citation database suggests the following journals 

are core publications for the field of taphonomy. Journals are listed in suggested order of significance. 

✮ PALAIOS. Tulsa, OK: Society for Sedimentary Geology. ISSN: 0883-1351. Publication 

frequency: bi-monthly. 1986- 

A multidisciplinary journal dedicated to emphasizing the impact of life on Earth 

history as recorded in the paleontological and sedimentological records. 

Indexed in: 

BioOne 

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. Amsterdam: Elsevier. ISSN: 0031- 

0182. Publication frequency: varies. 1965- 

An international journal of the geo-sciences. A multidisciplinary journal, it includes 

original studies and comprehensive reviews in the field of paleo-environmental 

geology. 

Indexed in: 

AESIS 

AGI's Bibliography and Index 

of Geology 

BIOSIS 

Bulletin Signalétique 

Current Contents 

ESRISAT 

Elsevier BIOBASE 

GEOBASE 

Meteorological and 

Geophysical Abstracts 

PASCAL/CNRS 

Petroleum Abstracts 

Scopus 

Journal of Archaeological Science. New York: Academic Press. ISSN: 0305-4403. 

Publication frequency: monthly. 1974- 

A journal covering advances in the application of scientific techniques and 

methodologies to all areas of archaeology. 

Indexed in: 

Abstracts in Anthropology 

Art and Archaeology 

Technical Abstracts 

British & Irish Archaeological 

Bibliography 

Current Contents/Arts & 

Humanities 


Research Alert 

Scopus 

Social Sciences Citation Index

Lethaia. London: Taylor and Francis Ltd. ISSN 0024-1164. Publication frequency: 

quarterly. 1968- 

An international journal of palaeontology and stratigraphy. 

Indexed in: 

AESIS 

Abstracts in Anthropology 

Biological Abstracts 

British Geological Literature 

Coal Abstracts 

Current Contents 

Deep Sea Research 

Ecological Abstracts 

Geographical Abstracts 

Physical Geography 


GeoREF 

Life Sciences Collection 

Petroleum Abstracts 

Research Alert 

Science Citation Index 

Paleobiology. Lawrence, KS: Paleontological Society. ISSN: 0094-8373. Publication 

frequency: quarterly. 1975- 

Dedicated to providing a forum for the greater integration of paleontology and 

biology. 

Indexed in: 

BioOne 

JSTOR Ecology and Botany 

Journal of Paleontology. Tulsa, OK: Society of Economic Paleontologists and 

Mineralogists. ISSN: 0022-3360. Publication frequency: bi-monthly. 1927- 


Publishes original research on the systematics of fossil organisms and its implications 

for all aspects of paleobiology and stratigraphic paleontology. Emphasizes 

specimen-based research. 

Indexed in: 

BioOne 

JSTOR Biological Sciences 

ProQuest Research Library


Journal of Human Evolution. New York: Academic Press. ISSN: 0047-2484. Publication 

frequency: monthly. 1972- 

The journal covers all aspects of paleoanthropology, including discoveries and 

interpretive analysis of human and primate fossils. 

Indexed in: 

EMBiology 

IBBS 

Other Significant Journals 

Scopus 

✮ Journal of Taphonomy. Madrid, Spain: Prometheus Press S.L. No ISSN listed. 

Publication frequency: quarterly. 2003-. 

This two-year old publication is the first journal devoted exclusively to taphonomic 

research. The peer-reviewed journal aims to better promote taphonomy as a fullfledged 

discipline within the paleontological sciences. 

More information: http://www.journaltaphonomy.com/ 

Indexed in: 

Zoological Record (Dialog File: 185). 

Palaeontologia electronica. College Station, TX: Coquina Press. ISSN: 1094-8074. 

Publication frequency: quarterly. 1998-. 

An electronic publication covering all topics in paleontology. Emphasizes digital 

graphics, modeling, databases and data analysis tools. Includes a wide range of 

taphonomic studies. 

Web access: http://palaeo-electronica.org. 

Additional journals of interest: 

American Journal of American Anthropology 

American Journal of Physical Anthropology 

Cretaceous Research 

Facies 

Geology 

Journal of Forensic Sciences 

Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 

Paleontology 

Quaternary International

SELECTED ARTICLES 

Highly Cited Articles 


These journal articles are among the most highly cited articles in the ISI citation databases from 1990 to 

present for keyword “taphonom*”. Articles are listed in descending order of citation frequency. 

Flessa K.W., Cutler, A.H., and Meldahl K.H. (1993). Time and taphonomy - quantitative 

estimates of time-averaging and stratigraphic disorder in a shallow marine 

habitat. Paleobiology, 19(2), 266-286. 

Research article examines the age, taphonomic condition and stratigraphic position 

of shells from Mexican tidal flats. A key study of time-averaging processes (temporal 

resolution, an important taphonomic method). 

Holland S.M. (1995). The stratigraphic distribution of fossils. Paleobiology, 21(1), 92-109. 

Presents a model of the stratigraphic distribution of fossils. 

Foote M., and Raup D.M. (1996). Fossil preservation and the stratigraphic ranges of 

taxa. Paleobiology, 22(2), 121-140. 

Research linking the incompleteness of the fossil record to loss of fossiliferous rock, 

as opposed to failure of a species to enter the fossil record in the first place. 

Butterfield N.J. (1990). Organic preservation of non-mineralizing organisms and the 

taphonomy of the Burgess Shale. Paleobiology, 16(3), 272-286. 

Detailed taphonomic examination of the organic preservation processes of nonmineralizing 

animals. 

Two additional highly cited articles are noted in the Key Literatures Review Section, directly below. 

Key Literature Reviews 

Brett C.E. (1995). Sequence Stratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and taphonomy in shallow 

marine environments. Palaios, 10(6): 597-616. 

A review of advances in marine stratigraphy and taphonomy. Recommends an 

integrated framework for uniting stratigraphic and taphonomic studies. A highly 

cited article.


Ferguson, D.K. (2005). Plant taphonomy: ruminations on the past, the present and the 

future. PALAIOS, (20)5, 418-428. 

A thorough review of the literature covering developments in taphonomic processes 

of leaves, woody tissues, spores, pollen and diasporas, as well as the biostratinomic 

processes affecting plant accumulation and burial. 11 areas are identified for future 

research. Extensive 4 ½ page bibliography. 

Kidwell S.M., Flessa K.W. (1995). The quality of the fossil record: populations, species 

and communities. Annual Review Of Ecology And Systematics, 26, 269-299. 

A review of taphonomic studies on the postmortem behavior of organic remains in 

modern environments. Concludes that such experimental and actualistic taphonomic 

studies are providing new insights into information that can be gained from the fossil 

record. A highly cited article. 

Martin-Closas, C., Gomez, B. (2004). Plant taphonomy and palaeoecological 

interpretations: a synthesis. GeoBios, 37(1), 65-68. 

A recent review of the literature, covering necrobiotic, biostratinomic, and 

lithospheric processes on plant material. 

Background and Seminal Articles 

Brett, C. E. and Baird, G. C., 1986, Comparative taphonomy: a key to 

paleoenvironmental interpretation using fossil preservation. Palaios 1, 207-227. 

Excellent background article on the utility of comparative taphonomic 

methodologies. 

✮ Efremov, I.A. (1940). Taphonomy: a new branch of paleontology. Pan American 

Geologist, 74, 81-93. Retrieved November 3, 2005, from 

http://www.astro.spbu.ru/staff/serg/interests/literature/efremov/tapharticle 

13.html 

Seminal article that coined the term ‘taphonomy’, and called for the establishment of 

taphonomy as a separate branch of paleontology. The modern discipline of 

taphonomy is typically dated from the publication of this article.

Kowalewski, M., Labarbera, M. (2004). Actualistic taphonomy: death, decay, and 

disintegration in contemporary settings. PALAIOS, 19(5), 423-427. 

Overview of the research themes and strategies associated with actualistic 

taphonomy. 


Plotnick, R.E. (1993). Taphonomy: perfecting the fossil record. Geotimes, 38(11), 14. 

A concise article defining taphonomy and its major sub-disciplines, and describing its 

modern emphases on information gain vs. information loss. 

Dedicated Journal Issues 

These special issues of the below journals were entirely dedicated to taphonomic research. 

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 149(1-4). (1999). Amsterdam: Elsevier. Special 

issue entitled “Taphonomy as a Tool in Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction 

and Environmental Assessment.” 

Contains 30 research articles covering a wide range of taphonomic subjects, 

including marine research, taphonomic comparisons, experimental taphonomy, and 

environmental data that can be derived from taphonomic studies. 

A full list of articles can be accessed at: 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=IssueURL&_tockey=%23TOC%2358 

21%231999%23998509998%2395109%23FLA%23&_auth=y&view=c&_acct=C00 

0050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=b216b79a682e9c80c1429 

f8e76228846 

PALAIOS, 19(5) (2004). Tulsa, OK: Society for Sedimentary Geology. Special issue entitled 

the “Friday Harbor Laboratory Special Issue”. 

This special issue of the journal PALAIOS includes eight case studies representing a 

diverse cross-section of the research themes of modern actualistic taphonomy. 

Themes cover necrolysis, biostratinomy, comparative taphonomy, fidelity and 

methodology of taphonomy. 

A full list of articles can be accessed at: 

http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=get-toc&issn=0883- 

1351&volume=019&issue=05


PALAIOS, (20)5. (2005). Tulsa, OK: Society for Sedimentary Geology. Special issue entitled 

the “Plant Taphonomy Special Issue”. 

This special issue of the journal PALAIOS includes 6 research reports presented at 

the 7 th International Organization of Paleobotany Conference, held March 21-26, 

2004 in Bariloche, Argentina. 

A full list of articles can be viewed at: http://www.bioone.org/bioone/?request=gettoc&issn=0883-1351&volume=020&issue=05 

CONFERENCES AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS 

Major Conferences and Associated Proceedings 

This section includes recent professional gatherings of taphonomists, including conferences, meetings, workshops 

and symposia. Associated resources, including published proceedings and conference web sites, are provided 

where available. 

✮ TAPHOS - The premier international conference devoted to the field of taphonomy. 

The next scheduled conference will be held in Granada, Spain in 2008 (contact Julio Aguirre 

at jaguirre@ugr.es). Prior TAPHOS conferences and published proceedings: 

TAPHOS 2005 – 4 th Taphonomy and Fossilization Meeting / 2 nd International 

Conference. Held June 16-18, 2005, Barcelona, Spain. 

Web site: http://www.ub.edu/taphos05/ 

Proceedings: To be published in a forthcoming issue of Geobios (journal 

published by Elsevier. ISSN: 0016-6995) 

TAPHOS 2002 – 3rd Taphonomy and Fossilization Meeting / 1 st International 

Conference. Held February 14-16, 2002, Valencia, Spain. 

Web site: http://paleopolis.rediris.es/paleontologia/Taphos2002/ 

Proceedings: De Renzi, M., Alonso, M.V.P., Belinchón, M., Penalver, E., 

Montoya, P., and Márquerz-Aliaga, A. (eds.). (2002). Current 

topics on taphonomy and fossilization. Valencia, Spain: 

Ayuntamiento de Valencia.

TAPHOS 1996 – 2 nd Taphonomy and Fossilization Meeting. Held June 13-15, 1996, 

Zaragoza, Spain. 


Proceedings: Melendez, G., Blasco, M.F., Perez-Urresti, I. (eds.). (1996). 

Proceedings volume of the II meeting on taphonomy and 

fossilization. Zaragoza, Spain: Institution Fernando el 

Catolico. 

TAPHOS 1990 –1 st Taphonomy and Fossilization Meeting. Held in Madrid, Spain. 

Proceedings: None located. 

International Meeting on Bone Diagenesis - This conference brings together specialists 

from multiple disciplines, to discuss and explore the processes of diagenesis and fossilization 

on bone tissue. 

2005 - Fifth International Meeting on Bone Diagenesis. Held August 28-31, 2005, at 

University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. 

Proceedings: No publication intentions announced as of this time. Possibly 

forthcoming. 

2002 – Fourth International Meeting on Bone Diagenesis. Held May, 2002 in 

Albarracín, Spain. 

Proceedings: Published in a dedicated issue (August, 2002) of 

Archaeometry, 44(3). 

1996 – Third International Meeting on Bone Diagenesis. Held March 4-7, 1996, in 

Paris, France. 

Proceedings: Published in dedicated bilingual issue (1997) of the Bulletin 

de la Société Géolique de France, 168(4). 

1993 – Second International Meeting on Bone Diagenesis. Held in Oxford, England. 

Proceedings: Published in dedicated issue (1995) of the Journal of 

Archaeological Science, 22(2). 

1988 – First International Meeting on Bone Diagenesis. Held in Oxford, England. 

Proceedings: None located.


International Workshop on Plant Taphonomy - This international conference has been 

held annually since 1989. Its purpose is to “stimulate scientific research and to promote 

contacts among scientists engaged in the study of plant taphonomy including living and 

fossil plants of all geological periods” (retrieved November 11, 2005, from http://www.uniwuerzburg.de/mineralogie/tapho/tapho1.html) 

Although most of the papers presented at these workshops have not been published as 

consolidated proceedings, many papers have been published individually in academic 

journals. Many of these papers can be located using OCLC’s PapersFirst subscription 

database (available via Drexel University’s Hagerty Library). Additionally presentation 

abstracts are available on the below-listed conference web sites. 

16 th International Plant Taphonomy Meeting. Held September 16-18, 2005, in 

Pilsen, Czech Republic. 

Web site: http://www.zcm.cz/meeting/ 

Proceedings: No publication intentions announced as of this time. Possibly 

forthcoming. 

15 th International Plant Taphonomy Meeting. Held November 12-13, 2004 in 

Leiden, Netherlands. 

Web site: http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/mineralogie/tapho/leiden.html 

14 th International Plant Taphonomy Meeting. Held November 8, 2003 in 

Chemnitz, Germany. 

Web site: http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/mineralogie/tapho/chemnitz2003.html 

13 th International Plant Taphonomy Meeting. Held November 9, 2002 in Bonn, 

Germany 

Web site: http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/mineralogie/tapho/bonn2002.html 

12 th International Plant Taphonomy Meeting. Held October 26, 2001 in 

Altlengbach, Austria. 

Web site: http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/mineralogie/tapho/vienna.html 

11 th International Plant Taphonomy Meeting. Held November 11, 2000 in 

Barcelona, Spain. 

Web site: http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/mineralogie/tapho/barcelona.html


10 th International Plant Taphonomy Meeting. Held November 20-21, 1999 in 

Leeds, United Kingdom. 

Web site: http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/mineralogie/tapho/leeds.html 

6th International Workshop on Plant Taphonomy. Held November, 1994, Bonn, 

Germany. 

Proceedings Published in dedicated 1996 issue of Neues Jahrbuch Fur 

Geologie Und Palaontologie Abhandlungen, 202(2). Text 

in English. Abstracts in English and German. 

Additional Published Proceedings 

Behrensmeyer, A.K., and Hill, A.P. (1980). Fossils in the making: vertebrate taphonomy 

and paleoecology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 

Part of a published series on “Prehistoric Archeology and Ecology”, this volume 

brings together papers presented at a symposium held in July, 1976, entitled 

“Taphonomy and Vertebrate Paleoecology, with Special Reference to the Late 

Cenozoic of Sub-Sarahan Africa” (Burg Wartenstein Symposium No. 69). Papers fall 

into a range of categories, including the history of taphonomic studies, implications 

for studies of modern ecology, archaeological taphonomy, taphonomic methodology, 

and applications in paleoecology. 

Bonnichsen, R., and Sorg, M.H. (eds.). (1989). Bone Modification. Orono, ME: Center for 

the Study of the First Americans, Institute for Quaternary Studies, University of Maine. 

A dedicated collection of bone studies in archaeology and paleontology. Reviews 

methods of interpreting various physical forces on bone, and tools used to examine 

and catalog bone modifications. Text includes eleven archaeological case studies 

Papers were originally presented at the first International Conference on Bone 

Modification, held in Carson City, Nevada in 1984. 

Huntley, J.P., and Stallibrass, S. (eds.). (2000). Taphonomy and interpretation. Oxford: 

Oxbow Books. 

Articles presented at the 1993 annual conference of the Association for 

Environmental Archaeology, held at Durham University, September 18-21, 1993.


Kidwell, S.M., and Behrensmeyer, A.K., editors (1993). Taphonomic approaches to time 

resolution in fossil assemblages. Knoxville, TN: Paleontological Society. 

Proceedings of the 16th annual short course of the Paleontological Society, held at 

the 105th Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, Boston, 

Massachusetts, October 1993. 

O’Connor, T.P., editor (2005). Biosphere to lithosphere : new studies in vertebrate 

taphonomy. Oxford: Oxbow Books. 

Proceedings of the 9th Conference of the International Council of Archaeozoology, 

Durham, August 2002. 

Mountain, M., and Dowdery, D. (eds.). (1999). Taphonomy : the analysis of processes 

from phytoliths to megafauna. Canberra : ANH Publications. 

A collection of papers presented at the Taphonomy Symposium, held April 28-30, 

1995, in Canberra, Australia. 

Solomon, S.; Davidson, I. ; Watson, D. (1990). Problem solving in taphonomy: 

archaeological and palaeontological studies from Europe, Africa and Oceania. 

Lucia, Queensland, Australia: Anthropology Museum, University of Queensland. 

Articles presented at the First New England Archaeology Symposium, entitled 

"Taphonomy of Bones". Held February 21-23, 1987 at Armidale, New South Wales. 

OTHER PUBLICATIONS 

Dissertations and Theses 

Digital Dissertations. Ann Arbor, MI: ProQuest Company. [Subscription database] 

Contains more than 1.5 million doctoral dissertations and master’s theses of all 

topics, dating from 1861 to present. Abstracts available for those published after 

1980, and full text is available for two-thirds of all entries. Nearly 300 results were 

returned on a query for keywords ‘taphonomy OR taphonomic’. 

Electronic access: Via Drexel University’s Hagerty Library subscription. 

More info: http://www.library.drexel.edu/resources/dbinfo/digdiss.html

Networked Digital Library of Theses & Dissertations (NDLTD). Blacksburg, VA: 

Virginia Tech. Retrieved November 15, 2005, from 

http://www.ndltd.org/index.en.html 


NDLTD is international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, 

creation, use, dissemination and preservation of electronic theses and dissertations. is 

a free resource for accessing the increasing number of theses and dissertations 

available electronically. The NDLTD’s browse and search page provides a number of 

tools for discovery of and access to electronic dissertations. A query using just one of 

these tools, Scirus ETD Search, yielded 263 results for a search on the keyword 

‘taphonom*’. 

Government Publications 

U.S. Government Printing Office (2005). GPO Access. Retrieved November 29, 2005, from 

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html 

GPO Access is a service of the U.S. Government Printing Office that provides free 

electronic access to a wealth of publications of the federal government, including 

agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey. The site’s subject bibliography lists 160 

resources in the earth sciences (not a comprehensive listing). 

National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce (2005). National 

Technical Information Service (NTIS) . Springfield, VA: U.S. Department of 

Commerce [subscription database] 

This database consists of summaries of U.S. government-sponsored research 

publications of many types, prepared by federal agencies, their contractors, or 

grantees. It is the means through which unclassified, publicly available, unlimited 

distribution reports are made available for sale from approximately 240 federal 

agencies. Additionally, some state and local government agencies now contribute 

summaries of their reports to the database. Includes publications relating to the earth 

sciences. 


File Size: Over 2.2 million records. 

Update Frequency: Weekly 

Electronic access: Dialog subscription database, file 6 (Cary, NC: The Dialog 

Corporation). Accessible with librarian assistance. 

Print counterparts: Government Reports Announcements & Index 

Government Inventions for Licensing 

More information: http://library.dialog.com/bluesheets/html/bl0006.html

E-print and Preprint Repositories 


Taphonomists do not make as extensive use of preprint resources as some other scientific disciplines. To some 

extent, this is due to the limited amount of taphonomic research being conducted, and the site-oriented nature 

of paleontological and archaeological fieldwork. It is unlikely that multiple researchers will be working on a 

similar problem or location without being aware of each other. E-print resources for taphonomists are also 

limited, but gradually growing. 

U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Scientific and Technical Information. E-print 

Network. Retrieved November 30, 2005, from http://www.osti.gov/eprints/ 

This web site provides “one-stop browse/search access to more than 18,200 Web 

sites containing e-prints, full text searching of over 660,000 e-print documents 

indexed from Web sites, deep Web searching across 39 major databases containing 

close to 20 million pages of searchable full text, and links to more than 2,700 

professional scientific societies” (retrieved November 22, 2005, from 

http://www.osti.gov/eprints/about.html) An alerting service is available. 

ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS 

Associations And Professional Societies 

There is currently no specific professional association dedicated to taphonomy and the advancement of 

taphonomic studies. Professional taphonomists can be found as active members in the following paleontological 

associations: 

International Paleontological Association (IPA) - Paleontological Institute, University of 

Kansas, Lawrence, KS. 

Publications: Lethaia, published quarterly. Peer reviewed. 

Meetings: Sponsors multiple meetings annually, in partnership with other 

international congresses. 

Web site: http://ipa.geo.ku.edu/index1.html

The Paleontological Association – Institution of Geography and Earth Sciences, 

University of Wales, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3DB, U.K. 


The association was founded in 1957 to promote the study of palaeontology and its 

allied sciences. 

Publications: Palaeontology, published six times annually, covering all 

aspects of paleontology, including taphonomy. 

Special Papers in Palaeontology, monographic treatments 

on dedicated subject areas. Published twice annually. 

Paleontology Newsletter, published 3-4 times annually. 

Field Guide to Fossils, a series of 10 illustrated guidebooks. 

Meetings: Annual. Upcoming: 49 th annual meeting in Oxford, 

U.K., December 18-21, 2005. 

Web site: http://palass.org/index.html 

The Paleontological Society. Department. of Earth and Environment, Franklin and 

Marshall College, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003. 

The Paleontological Society is an international organization devoted exclusively to 

the advancement of all branches of the science of paleontology. The Society was 

founded in 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland, and disseminates research through 

publications and meetings. 

Publications: Numerous research articles on taphonomy can be found in 

their official newsletter, Priscum, published twice annually, 

and their peer-reviewed Journal of Paleontology, published 

six times annually. 

Meetings: Annual. 

Web site: http://www.paleosoc.org/ 

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) - 60 Revere Dr., Suite 500, Northbrook, IL 

60062 

Founded in 1940 by thirty-four paleontologists, the Society now has over 2,000 

members representing professionals and students interested in all aspects of 

vertebrate paleontology. It is organized exclusively for educational and scientific 

purposes, with the object of advancing the science of vertebrate paleontology. 

Publications: The Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, published quarterly, peer- 

reviewed. 

Meetings: Annual. Upcoming: 67th Annual Meeting of the 

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Oct. 17-20, 2007, Austin, TX. 

Web site: http://www.vertpaleo.org/ 

Email: svp@vertpaleo.org

Government Agencies 


U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior. U.S. Geological Survey Web Site 

(U.S.G.S.). Retrieved November 27, 2005, from 

http://www.usgs.gov/science/science.php?term=861 

A multi-disciplinary science organization of the United States federal government. 

Emphasis on earth and environmental sciences, including paleontology. Resources 

include research reports, maps and publications. The USGS search engine retrieves 

relevant results across multiple federal and state web sites. 

Private Research Centers 

Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory - Rutgers University - 6959 Miller Avenue, Port 

Norris, NJ 08349-3167. 

Research Initiatives: Shelf and Slope Environmental Taphonomy Initiative 

(SSETI). A long-term taphonomic study of undersea 

fossilization rates. Research centered at the Caribbean 

Marine Research Center, Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. A 

federally funded research project involving multiple academic 

institutions. 

Lead scientist: Dr. Eric Powell, Director. 

Web site: http://vertigo.hsrl.rutgers.edu/SSETI.html 

Paleontological Research Institution. 1259 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. 

Research: Ongoing research in multiple areas of paleontology, including 

a current study on a variety of Problematica fossils (fossils of 

organisms with no known living counterpart). 

Collections: Recently opened the Museum of the Earth, an 18,000-foot 

facility adjoining the research center, housing one of the 

nation's largest fossil collections. 

Publications: PRI publishes two paleontological research journals, the peer- 

reviewed Bulletin of American Paleontology, published 2-3 

times annually, and the non-specialist quarterly American 

Paleontologist. 

Web site: http://www.priweb.org/index.html

CURRENT AWARENESS 

Electronic Newsletters 


Dauphin, Yannicke (ed.). (2005). Taphonomy & Diagenesis News (TDNews). Orsay, 

France: Université Paris-Sud XI, Faculté des Sciences d'Orsay. Retrieved October 20, 

2005, from http://biomin.geol.u-psud.fr/tdnews/index.htm 

An Internet-based newsletter dedicated to current events in the study of vertebrate 

taphonomy and vertebrate diagenesis. Maintained by a French group of academic 

paleontologists. Publication frequency: irregular.. 

Donoghue, P.C. (ed.). The Paleontology Newsletter. Birmingham, U.K.: The 

Paleontological Association. 

A publication of the Paleontological Association. Contains a mixture of 

palaeontological news, book reviews, reviews of past meetings, details of 

forthcoming meetings and regular discussion features. Issue 26 to present is also 

available electronically. Also available in print format, with association membership. 

ISSN: 0954-9900. 

Publication frequency: 3-4 times annually. 

Web access: http://palass.org/index.html 

Harries, P. (ed.). Priscum. Tampa, FL: The Paleontological Society. 

A publication of the Paleontological Society, containing articles, book reviews, 

announcements and notes. Newsletters can be downloaded in PDF format. Also 

available in print format, with association membership. Publication frequency: biannual. 

Web site: http://www.paleosoc.org/publications.html

Table Of Contents Service 

Current Contents. Philadelphia, PA: ISI – Thomson Scientific. [subscription database] 

Grants 


This resource, available in both print and database formats, is a weekly service that 

reproduces the tables of contents from current issues of leading journals in the 

sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. Covers approximately 6,500 

journals representing virtually every discipline within the sciences, social sciences, 

arts, and humanities. 


File Size: 13,707,664 records as of November 2003 

Update Frequency: Daily (approximately 4,000 records per update) 





ml 

Print counterparts include: Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth 

Science 

Annual Register of Grant Support 2005: A directory of funding resources. 38 th edition. 

Los Angeles: Academic Media. Series. 

Not reviewed. A print guide to the funding programs of government agencies, 

private foundations, businesses and other grant-providing organizations. 

Community of Science Funding Opportunities. Baltimore, MD: Community of Science, 

Inc. [subscription database] 

The most comprehensive source of funding information available on the Web, with 

more than 22,000 records, representing over 3,500 grant-giving organizations, and 

400,000 funding opportunities, worth over $33 billion. Includes access to numerous 

grants relating to paleontology. 

Access: Available via Drexel University’s Hagerty Library subscription .


National Science Foundation (2005). Earth Sciences Research at the National Science 

Foundation. Retrieved November 28, 2005 from 

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5570 

The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the 

United States by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for 

scientific research and education. Their Division of Earth Sciences includes targeted 

funding opportunities for paleontological research and projects. The NSF 

encourages electronic dissemination of information, but print publications are also 

available. Note: NSF grant information also available via Grants.gov (see below 

listing). 

Print equivalent: NSF Publication #04-613, last published September 9, 2004. 

Available via NSF Publications, National Science Foundation, 

Suite P-60, Arlington, VA 22230; phone: (703) 292-PUBS. 

Grants – Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press. [subscription database] 

This database provides information on more than 10,000 available grants offered by federal, 

state, and local governments, commercial organizations, associations, and private 

foundations. Covers all academic disciplines. 

Dates Covered: Currently available grants 

File Size: Approximately 9,573 records as of February 2004 

Update Frequency: Monthly 





ml 

Print counterparts: Directory of Research Grants 

Directory of Biomedical and Health Care Grants 

Directory of Grants in the Humanities 

Funding Sources for Community and Economic 

Development 

Funding Sources for K-12 Schools and Educational 

Organizations and Operating Grants for Nonprofit 

Organizations 

United States Department of Health and Human Services (2005). Grants.gov. Retrieved 

November 5, 2005, from http://www.grants.gov/ 

A single point of access for federal funding information. Includes programs 

sponsored by 26 federal grant-making agencies and over 900 individual grant 

programs that award over $400 billion in grants each year.

Employment 

American Geological Institute (2005). GeoTimes Classifieds. Retrieved November 15, 

2005, from http://www.agiweb.org/geotimes/ads.html 


Current career opportunities across the earth science disciplines. Includes separate 

section for student work opportunities. Hosted by The American Geological 

Institute, a not-for-profit federation of 44 geoscientific and professional associations. 

PaleoNet Jobs Page. Retrieved November 15, 2005, from 

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/paleonet/Jobs/Jobs.Html 

A service of PaleoNet, an electronic communication resource for paleontological 

professionals and graduate students. Lists paleontological work opportunities 

worldwide, as well as links to further earth science employment resources. 

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2005). Vertebrate Paleontology Employment and 

Funding Opportunities. Retrieved November 15, 2005, from 

http://www.vertpaleo.org/jobs/index.html 

A service of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, a non-profit organization 

dedicated to professional vertebrate paleontology. Lists work and grant opportunities 

worldwide.

DISCUSSION GROUPS 


Discussion groups are interactive, electronic communication forums on defined subjects or topics. They are 

available in two principle formats: listservs and USENET newsgroups. Listservs operate via e-mail 

transmission, while USENET newsgroups communicate on Internet-based bulletin boards. The distinction 

between the two formats is declining, as many listservs now also archive ongoing email discussions in an 

Internet format. 

Listservs 

Listservs utilize several different e-mail addresses: 

Server address - Used only for posting messages to the listserv. 

Listserver management address - Primarily used to subscribe and unsubscribe. Other commands 

can also be used with this address; i.e., to obtain lists of subscribers, obtain listserv descriptions, 

and perform other subscription management functions. 

Moderator address - A personal e-mail address. Should only be used for questions, technical 

difficulties, concerns, or suggestions about the listserv. 

✮ DDDNet – Dedicated to the discussion of taphonomy and other fossil preservation 

issues. 

Server address: dddnet@uicvm.cc.uic.edu 

Moderator: Roy E. Plotnick, University of Chicago at Illinois. Moderator 

contact info: 

Web: http://tigger.uic.edu/~plotnick/plotnick.htm 

E-mail: plotnick@uic.edu 

To subscribe: Send e-mail message to listserv@uicvm.cc.uic.edu with no 

subject line. Include “SUBSCRIBE DDDNET (your name)” 

in body of message. 

Paleonet – An active discussion forum for the paleontological community. 

Server address: paleonet@nhm.ac.uk 

Moderator: Norman MacLeod, Dept. of Paleontology, The Natural 

History Museum, London, U.K. Moderator contact info: 

Web: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/paleonet/ 

E-mail: N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk 

To subscribe: Send e-mail message to PaleoNet-Request@nhm.ac.uk with 

no subject line. Include “SUBSCRIBE PALEONET” in 

body of message.

VRTPALEO - Primarily serves the vertebrate paleontology community. 


Web site http://www.vertpaleo.org/vrtpaleo/index.html 

Server address: vrtpaleo@usc.edu 

Moderator: Dr. Sam McLeod, Vertebrate Paleontologist, Los Angeles 

County Museum of Natural History. Moderator contact info: 

E-mail: smcleod@usc.edu 

To subscribe: Send e-mail message to listproc@usc.edu with “subscribe 

VRTPALEO in body of message, followed by your name, all 

written on a single line. 

Usenet Newsgroups 

There are currently no newsgroups specifically dedicated to discussions of taphonomy. Relevant conversations 

can be found, however, in the following broader newsgroups: 

sci.bio.paelontology A USENET group devoted to all topics related to paleontology, with 

the exception of Creationism discussions. High membership level, and frequent discussion 

activity. Information and subscription to newsgroup can be accessed via: 

http://groups.google.com/group/sci.bio.paleontology/about 

sci.archaeology High membership level and frequent discussion activity. Information and 

subscription to newsgroup can be accessed via: 

http://groups.google.com/group/sci.archaeology/about 

sci.anthropology.paleo Newsgroup dedicated to discussion of the evolution of man and 

other primates. High membership level and frequent discussion activity. Information and 

subscription to newsgroup can be accessed via: 

http://groups.google.com/group/sci.anthropology.paleo/about 

sci.geo.geology Newsgroup for the discussion of all solid earth science topics. High 

membership level, medium discussion activity. Information and subscription to newsgroup 

can be accessed via: 

http://groups.google.com/group/sci.geo.geology/about 

Paleontology and Fossil Talk. This newsgroup welcomes individuals of all levels of 

interest and ability into an open discussion group on plant, invertebrate and vertebrate 

fossils. Low membership, low activity. Information and subscription to newsgroup: 

http://groups.google.com/group/Paleontology-and-Fossil-Talk/about

INTERNET RESOURCES 

Informative Web Sites 


Bowie, Suzanne (1999). Experimental Taphonomy. Retrieved November 5, 2005, from 

http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/Palaeofiles/Taph/ 

Web site providing excellent introduction to experimental taphonomic methods. 

Developed by University of Bristol, U.K. graduate student. Includes bibliography 

and glossary. 

University of California – Berkeley, Museum of Paleontology (1998). Plant Fossils and 

their Preservation. Retrieved November 8, 2005, from 

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/IB181/VPL/Pres/PresTitle.html 

A web tutorial covering taphonomic processes of plant fossils, environmental 

conditions of ancient plant preservation and types of plant fossils. 

The Virtual Fossil Museum (2005). Retrieved November 11, 2005, from 

http://www.fossilmuseum.net/ 

An extensive and growing collection of high-quality fossil images, presented in 

multiple contexts of geological history, the tree of life, paleobiology and evolution. 

Images are donated by a variety of contributors under editorial guidance, and 

provided to the public as an educational resource. 

Wells, R.M. (1998). Taphonomy & Preservation. Retrieved October 30, 2005, from 

http://paleo.cortland.edu/tutorial/Taphonomy%26Pres/taphonomy.htm 

Site hosted by the College at Cortland, State University of New York. Excellent 

overview of taphonomic processes and types of fossil preservation modes. 

Museum Collections 

Florida Museum of Natural History (2005). Vertebrate Paleontology. Retrieved November 

25, 2005, from http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/vertpaleo.htm#Top 

The musem’s regional vertebrate fossil collections feature rich samples of all classes, 

mainly from the Cenozoic Era.. Included are about 400,000 specimens, of which 

more than 235,000 are catalogued and 220,000 are currently on a searchable 

computer database.


San Diego Natural History Museum (2005). Paleontology Collection Database. Retrieved 

November 25, 2004, from 

http://www.sdnhm.org/research/paleontology/searchdata.html 

The paleontology collections of the museum can be searched by locality, taxon, rock 

unit, or time unit. Includes regional fossil vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. 

✮ University of California, Berkeley (2005). Museum of Paleontology Web Site. Retrieved 

November 10, 2005, from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/ 

Databases 

A rich resource detailing the museum’s microfossil, invertebrate, vertebrate and plant 

fossil collections, and providing databases of fossil specimen data and images. 

Sponsored by the UC Berkeley Digital Library Project, sponsored by the National 

Science Foundation’s Digital Libraries Initiative. 

In 2000, Jocelyn Kaiser noted that the paleontological sciences lag behind other disciplines in the creation of 

Internet database resources. Challenges include the sharing of privately held specimens maintenance of rapidly 

changing taxonomic data. The situation has improved in the intervening 5 years, however, and several 

excellent paleontological databases now exist. A small sampling is provided here. Although not specifically 

geared to taphonomic studies, specialists will nonetheless find the specimen identification and stratigraphic 

data these resources contain to be useful. 

Reference: Kaiser, J. (2000). Fossil databases move to the web. Science, 289(5488), 2307 

✮ Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol (2003). Fossil Laggerstätten. 


http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/Palaeofiles/Lagerstatten/ 

A database listing sites with exceptional fossil preservation, worldwide. Details of 

each paleontological deposit include a section on the site’s taphonomy, often with 

images. Site listing can be ordered for browsing stratigraphically. 

Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol. The Fossil Record 2. Retrieved 

November 27, 2005, from http://palaeo.gly.bris.ac.uk/frwhole/FR2.html 

A “near-complete listing of the diversity of life through time”. Data is searchable by 

family, order, or phyla, and results can also be plotted onto paleogeographic maps. 

Print equivalent: Benton, M. J. (ed.) (1993). Fossil record 2. London: Chapman 

& Hall.


Fortelius, M. (coord.). (2005). Neogene of the Old World (NOW). University of Helsinki. 


http://www.helsinki.fi/science/now/index.html 

This database of European fossil mammals includes data of interest to taphonomists, 

including stratigraphic and environmental interpretation information for fossil 

specimens. Maintained by the University of Helsinki’s Department of Geology, 

Finland, and overseen by a large advisory board that includes two taphonomy 

specialists. Guests may log into the database server on a read-only basis. 

Server requirements: Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.4.x 

University of Iowa, Department of Geoscience (2004). Neogene Marine Biota of 

Tropical America (NMITA). Retrieved November 17, 2005, from 

http://porites.geology.uiowa.edu/index.htm 

Provides fossil taxa data and images from two marine fossil sampling programs, one 

hosted by the Smithsonian Institution. Although the database is primarily designed 

“for use in research and education in systematics and evolutionary paleontology”, 

taphonomists will find the database a useful resource for marine fossil identification. 

Alroy, J. (coordinator). (2005). The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved November 29, 2005, 

from http://flatpebble.nceas.ucsb.edu/cgibin/bridge.pl?user=Guest&action=displayPage&page=paleodbFAQ 

A public resource for the scientific community, organized and operated by a multidisciplinary, 

multi-institutional, international group of paleobiological researchers. Its 

purpose is to provide global, collection-based occurrence and taxonomic data for 

marine and terrestrial animals and plants of any geological age, as well as web-based 

software for statistical analysis of the data. Currently funded by the National Science 

Foundation. 

The Paleontology Portal’s Fossil Gallery. (2003). Retrieved November 18, 2005, from 

http://www.paleoportal.org/fossil_gallery/fossil_gallery.php 

A collection of fossil images that can be searched by either time frame or taxon. A 

joint project of the University of California’s Museum of Paleontology, the 

Paleontological Society, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, and the United 

States Geological Survey. Site funded by a grant from the National Science 

Foundation.


International Organisation of Palaeobotany (1997). Plant Fossil Record. Retrieved 

November 22, 2005, from http://www.biodiversity.org.uk/ibs/palaeo/pfr2/pfr.htm 

This database includes descriptions and occurrences of more than 10,000 extinct 

plant genera. Modern genera with fossil species are also included in the description 

database. Names, places and ages can be searched and the occurrences are instantly 

plotted on palaeogeographic maps. 

Stratigraphy.net. (2001). Retrieved November 12, 2005, from 

http://stratigraphy.net/front_content.php?idcat=28 

An understanding of stratigraphy is essential to the work of taphonomists. This 

dynamic timescale database currently provides approximately 60 tables of the earth’s 

stratigraphic layers, including lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic views. Site is 

expected to grow to approximately 100 interrelational tables. A non-profit project, 

maintained by a group of German geologists. 

U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program (2004). U.S.G.S. Bedform 

Sedimentology. Retrieved November 5, 2005, from 

http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/seds/ 

Provides computer-generated and photographic images of marine currents, and 

resulting stratigraphic bedforms. An essential tool to assist taphonomists with 

understanding diagenetic patterns (bone dispersal) and stratigraphic consequences. 

Gateways and Search Engines 

✮ Resource Discovery Network (2004). Physical Sciences Information Gateway 

(PSIgate). Retrieved December 1, 2005, from http://www.psigate.ac.uk/newsite/ 

A gateway to high quality Internet resources in the physical sciences, including 

paleontology and taphonomy. The project is funded by the United Kingdom 

government. Each resource is selected by information professionals and subject to 

ensure relevance and quality. A full description of each resource is provided, together 

with a range of other information and direct access to the resource itself. 

✮ Elsevier (2005). Scirus. Retrieved November 29, 2005, from http://www.scirus.com 

A comprehensive search engine for the sciences. Covers 200 million science-specific 

Web pages, and filters out non-scientific sites. Enables the user to quickly locate 

scientific, scholarly, and technical data on the Internet. Retrieves articles, reports, 

patents, and other resource types.

Taphonomy: A resource guide - Carol Smith Home Page

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