Specimen Preparation: Deer Bones Curio 🦌

I discovered these deer bone specimens in my front and back gardens - several knuckle bones, one leg bone, and what I believe is another leg bone fragment. When I first found them, I was intrigued how they appeared cleaned and whitened, suggesting they'd been exposed to the elements for some time before ending up in my garden. And when I found the knuckles they were intact but broke apart when I picked them up.

What really caught my attention was the main leg bone, which showed clear evidence of human processing. There's a distinct charred ring around the bottom section and a clean split running through the bone - I suspect this came from a hunter who cut and possibly burnt it during field dressing. The markings were too precise and deliberate to be from natural causes or animal activity.

The fact that these bones had already undergone some natural cleaning, combined with the obvious processing marks, made me realize they were perfect specimens for preservation work. Rather than being random garden finds, these represented an opportunity to practice proper specimen preparation techniques on bones that had real stories to tell about both natural processes and human interaction with wildlife.

I integrated these bones with a large garden snail shell, an oak marble gall, and pressed Lobelia flowers, all collected from my back garden. In keeping with an ethical approach to specimen handling, I chose to return the gall to its natural setting, allowing the wasp larvae inside to emerge. This decision reflects my interest in balancing preservation with respect for ecological processes — an ethos that also underpins my wider work in museum and heritage contexts.

🧰 Materials and Equipment:

• 🦴 Deer bone specimens (knuckles and leg bones)

• 🐌 Large garden snail shell

• 🌰 Oak Marble Gall

• 🪻 Lobelia flowers (self-pressed)

• 🧼 Soap and water cleaning solutions

• 🧻 Paper towels (for drying during cleaning)

• ⏳ Drying time: 24 hours minimum after initial cleaning and whitening

• 🍶 Alcohol-water sterilisation solution

• 🪥 Scrubbing brushes and cleaning tools

• 🧤 Safety equipment for handling specimens

• 🖼️ Plastic tweezers (for display design)

• 📖 Flower press from BerstUK

• 🫙 Glass display jar with cork lid

⚙️ Preparation Process:

Bone Cleaning -

• 🔍 Initial Discovery - Found, researched, and identified bones with the help of my peers

• 🫧 Initial Disinfection - Cleaned specimens thoroughly using soap and water solutions

• 🧪 Chemical Sterilisation - Applied alcohol-water solutions for whitening and sterilisation

• 🌪️ Damage Documentation - Recorded evidence of charring and processing marks

Material Gathering -

• 🐌 Large Garden Snail Shell - Choose and cleaned

• 🌳 Oak Marble Gall - Found and researched, then returned it to my garden allowing any wasp larvae inside to emerge.

• 🪻 Lobelia flowers - Picked and pressed

Display Process -

• 🫙 Display Preparation - Cleaned and dried a square jar

• 🖼️ Curatorial Practice - Displayed and structured pieces in an aesthetic way

• 🧽 Final Preparation - Completed curating specimens for this display piece

Deer Knuckles and two Leg Bones - Sheffield, South Yorkshire - 29/06/2025

Large Garden Snail Shell, Oak Marble Gall, and Lobelia Flowers - Sheffield - 06/09/2025

Key Skills Developed:

• 🫙 Specimen Preservation – Multi-stage cleaning, chemical sterilization, and damage analysis of bone specimens

• 🔬 Scientific Documentation – Recording field discovery, forensic observation of processing marks, and preservation methods

• 👐 Conservation Practice – Following safety protocols, adapting techniques for damaged specimens, and careful examination of bone characteristics

• 🏛️ Museum-Relevant Skills – Specimen preparation, contextual analysis, and applying preservation ethics for long-term collection care

• 🧩 Problem-Solving – Improvising cleaning techniques, managing challenges like stubborn residue, and maintaining focus during lengthy processes

• 🎨 Professional Skills – Attention to detail, patience and perseverance, thorough documentation, and consideration of educational display potential

This project enhanced my practical experience in natural history specimen preparation, demonstrating skills directly transferable to museum collections work, archaeological laboratories, and conservation departments. The combination of field discovery, forensic analysis, and systematic preservation techniques reflects the comprehensive approach required for professional collections management and scientific specimen curation.

💀 See more on my Instagram: @BonesByShannon 🪲

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