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25. Paleo Cookies
Because they are used to seeing the beautiful skeletons on display in museums, most people think that paleontologist find the bones all laid out in order. In reality, things are much different. Skeletons are usually scattered, with some bones missing. The bones that are found are often in pieces, which have to be put back together.
To get a feel of what that is like, you will need:
- several cookies
To simulate finding a fragmented bone, take two cookies. Eat one. Break the other into four pieces. Mix the pieces up and then put the cookie back together. OK that was not too hard.
Next, try breaking a cookie into eight pieces. That is a bit more of a challenge.
To make things even more realistic, break another cookie into eight pieces, and mix the pieces from both together. Then eat three or four random chunks. Now you have a real challenge. When you have accomplished that, imagine doing the same with a 50 foot long dinosaur skeleton. Then you will understand why it can take years to prepare a single skeleton for display.
If this activity appeals to you, think about becoming a paleontologist or an archaeologist. Just remember that when you dig up a dinosaur bone, you shouldn't eat the pieces when you are done.
Have a wonder-filled week!
