News
John Nyaphuli receives Morris F. Skinner Award
John Nyaphuli, the National Museum’s most experienced fossil preparator, was awarded the 2011 Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Morris F. Skinner Award. This award is presented for outstanding and sustained contributions to scientific knowledge through the making of important collections of fossil vertebrates and encouraging, training or teaching others towards the same pursuits. Based in the United States, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology is palaeontology’s largest international society. John is only the second South African to have won this award, after the late James Kitching, who won it in 2000.
John has 38 years of experience in the field and has recovered hundreds of fossils, including six specimens that are completely new to science. His efforts in the field have been recognized by numerous researchers and in honour of his contribution to palaeontology, two new species, the basal anomodont therapsids (ancient ancestors of mammals) Australosyodon nyaphuli and Patranomodon nyaphulii, have been named after him. He was also awarded Honorary Life Membership of the National Museum in 1999 and Honorary Life Membership of the Palaeontological Society of Southern Africa in 2004 for his outstanding contributions to palaeontology.
John, at the age of 78, travelled to Las Vegas with Dr Jennifer Botha-Brink in November 2011 to attend the 71st annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in order to receive the award in person.
Unearthing the past
South Africa is world-renowned for its extensive fossil record. The rocks of the Karoo Basin contain the most complete record of the origins and evolution of mammals and the earliest dinosaurs, making South Africa one of the top palaeontological destinations in the world. New fossil species are continually being discovered, species which contain new information about the early ancestors of mammals and dinosaurs. As part of our natural heritage, these specimens must be carefully prepared and conserved. Important information contained in fossils can be developed and enhanced by proper and careful preparation techniques and this information can be preserved for future generations through publication of research results, and the proper conservation and storage of these specimens.
Fossil preparators, who are responsible for preparing fossils for research and exhibition purposes by removing the surrounding rock or matrix and repairing damaged parts, play a critical role in Palaeontology. Correct preparation techniques have the ability to unlock crucial information from a specimen, whereas poor preparation can result in the loss of that information.
Fossil preparation requires a combination of skills which must be developed over time; it demands knowledge of the specimen, the ability to focus for long periods of time, fine motor skills, patience and motivation.
The National Museum is pleased to announce a mentorship programme in fossil preparation, co-ordinated by Mr John Nyaphuli and sponsored by the Technical Training and Capacity Support Programme of the Palaeontological Scientific Trust’s (PAST) Scatterlings of Africa Project. Mr John Nyaphuli has worked as a fossil preparator in the Karoo Palaeontology Department of the National Museum since 1973. He has 37 years experience in field excavation, mechanical and acid fossil preparation and is one of the finest fossil preparators in the world. He has discovered numerous fossils and in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Palaeontology, both in the field and laboratory, was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the National Museum in 1999 and Honorary Life Membership of the Palaeontological Society of Southern Africa in 2004.
Mr Nyaphuli has trained numerous preparators at various institutions over the years and the Museum has been eager to begin a new mentorship programme with two trainees, Ms Sabie Chaka and Mr William Molehe, who joined the Museum recently this year. Our new preparators will be preparing fossils as part of an educational programme to promote Palaeontology in Bloemfontein. The fossils will provide learners with the unique opportunity to touch the remains of animals that lived millions of years ago. The educational aspect of the programme will be launched in 2012 in association with PAST’s Walking Tall Educational Theatre Project, a programme that uses theatre to inform learners about the story of life on Earth.
“Stay Tuned for Progress”
Department News
Erythrosuchus africanus
In 2008 an almost complete, fully articulated skeleton of the extinct archosauriform reptile, Erythrosuchus africanus was discovered by one of the departmental staff. Archosauriforms are a group of reptiles that are the ancestors of crocodiles and dinosaurs. This skeleton is the only known complete articulated specimen of Erythrosuchus and thus provides important information about this genus and the ancestors of dinosaurs.
Erythrosuchus was a 5m long carnivore that was the dominant predator in the Karoo during the Middle Triassic, about 245 million years ago. Our specimen is not quite fully adult, it is about 3.5m long and is probably about 65% of the maximum size of these creatures.
It took the museum fossil preparators nine months to prepare and is now on display in the Palaeontology Hall of the National Museum.
