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Picking a locality

Research

Reading about what people have already done

Getting permission

Planning and preparing

FINDING A FOSSIL

Defining your search method

Prospecting

Surveying and recording

Mapping

Identifying finds

EXCAVATING A FOSSIL

Investigating

Recording

Mapping

Wrapping, packing and transporting

CLEANING, REPAIRING AND CONSERVING

Opening jackets

Piecing together

Repairing

Sculpting

INTERPRETRING AND RECONSTRUCTING

Studying and describing

Comparing with other fossils

Comparing with living animals

Incorporating clues from other fossils

COMMUNICATING

Describing and illustrating

Deciding what is important

Writing

Exhibiting