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"Dinosaurs Along The Silk Road" -- Sinofossa 2009 8: Visit To Li Da-qing's Lab

When in Lanzhou, we stop in at Li Da-qing's lab, wherein he has stored all of his latest and greatest acquisitions from the field. Because many of these are unpublished as yet, I can't put photos in of many things; the ones shown here are things already published. Da-qing works for the deep breath Fossil Research and Development Center of the Third Geology and Mineral Resources Exploration Academy of Gansu Province; he and his teams have been absolutely critical to recovering some of the most interesting and unusual dinosaurs to come out of China in recent years. His partnership with Hailu has been incredibly productive, and I hope it continues for many, many more years!
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  • Right outside Da-qing's lab, some of his crew are assembling the first-ever mount of the ginormous sauropod Daxiatitan, using casts made in the lab. Here the base of the neck is being assembled, suspended from the forklift. Da-qing and Hailu described Daxiatitan in 2008. This mount will be part of a forthcoming exhibit dedicated to dinosaurs from Gansu, more or less all of which Da-qing has been involved with.

    Right outside Da-qing's lab, some of his crew are assembling the first-ever mount of the ginormous sauropod Daxiatitan, using casts made in the lab. Here the base of the neck is being assembled, suspended from the forklift. Da-qing and Hailu described Daxiatitan in 2008. This mount will be part of a forthcoming exhibit dedicated to dinosaurs from Gansu, more or less all of which Da-qing has been involved with.

  • More of the mounting of the neck of Daxiatitan.

    More of the mounting of the neck of Daxiatitan.

  • Another angle.

    Another angle.

  • Here are some of the more cranial (toward the head) cervical (neck) vertebrae of Daxiatitan, waiting to be added to the mount.

    Here are some of the more cranial (toward the head) cervical (neck) vertebrae of Daxiatitan, waiting to be added to the mount.

  • More of those cervical vertebrae, already on their armature.

    More of those cervical vertebrae, already on their armature.

  • And more...yes, it's a looooooong neck!

    And more...yes, it's a looooooong neck!

  • Inside the lab, more workers were assembling the thoracic (back) vertebrae of Daxiatitan.

    Inside the lab, more workers were assembling the thoracic (back) vertebrae of Daxiatitan.

  • More of the back assembly.

    More of the back assembly.

  • A reconstructed skull of the giant-toothed iguanodontian Lanzhousaurus. The skull is entirely reconstructed; the lower jaw is a replica of the real thing.

    A reconstructed skull of the giant-toothed iguanodontian Lanzhousaurus. The skull is entirely reconstructed; the lower jaw is a replica of the real thing.

  • Brenna poses with the scapulocoracoid (shoulder blade and girdle, rear) and femur (upper leg bone, front) of Daxiatitan. And Brenna is T A L L...

    Brenna poses with the scapulocoracoid (shoulder blade and girdle, rear) and femur (upper leg bone, front) of Daxiatitan. And Brenna is T A L L...

  • Here are the real cervical vertebrae of Daxiatitan, half enclosed in their molds and mother molds. This is how replicas of fossils are made: the real fossil is coated in rubber (latex, silicone, etc.), creating a mold (a "negative" of the real thing); the rubber-coated fossil is supported with a hard shell (usually of fiberglass) called a mother mold. For big, complex bones like these vertebrae, the molds and mother molds are done in sections so that each section can be removed individually. Once the entire bone has been molded and mother molded, the bone is removed from the mold, and the mold/mother mold pieces are put back together. Where the bone was is now a space in the exact shape of the bone. That space is filled with a casting material (plaster, polyester or polyurethane resin, etc.) to create an exact replica (cast) of the bone. Through a variety of techniques, the cast can also be made hollow for very large, heavy bones, creating a relatively strong and sturdy but very lightweight replica that is easier to mount and manipulate. I'm guessing that's what Da-qing and his people did with these Daxiatitan cervicals.

    Here are the real cervical vertebrae of Daxiatitan, half enclosed in their molds and mother molds. This is how replicas of fossils are made: the real fossil is coated in rubber (latex, silicone, etc.), creating a mold (a "negative" of the real thing); the rubber-coated fossil is supported with a hard shell (usually of fiberglass) called a mother mold. For big, complex bones like these vertebrae, the molds and mother molds are done in sections so that each section can be removed individually. Once the entire bone has been molded and mother molded, the bone is removed from the mold, and the mold/mother mold pieces are put back together. Where the bone was is now a space in the exact shape of the bone. That space is filled with a casting material (plaster, polyester or polyurethane resin, etc.) to create an exact replica (cast) of the bone. Through a variety of techniques, the cast can also be made hollow for very large, heavy bones, creating a relatively strong and sturdy but very lightweight replica that is easier to mount and manipulate. I'm guessing that's what Da-qing and his people did with these Daxiatitan cervicals.

  • This is (upside-down) the skull of the new basal tyrannosauroid theropod Xiongguanlong, published earlier in 2009 by Da-qing.

    This is (upside-down) the skull of the new basal tyrannosauroid theropod Xiongguanlong, published earlier in 2009 by Da-qing.

  • Here are some of the thoracic (back) vertebrae of Daxiatitan, also in their molds and mother molds. Missing pieces of the vertebrae have been reconstructed before molding.

    Here are some of the thoracic (back) vertebrae of Daxiatitan, also in their molds and mother molds. Missing pieces of the vertebrae have been reconstructed before molding.

  • Matt does his best Jim Jensen imitation with the scapulocoracoid (half in its mold) of Daxiatitan.

    Matt does his best Jim Jensen imitation with the scapulocoracoid (half in its mold) of Daxiatitan.

  • A femur of Daxiatitan -- this is a particularly interesting specimen because the bone has clearly been faulted -- the upper (showing) surface of the hip end of the bone (left) has been sheared off from the rest of the bone and moved a few centimeters away from its natural position. I don't know that I've ever seen a dinosaur bone faulted quite this cleanly...!

    A femur of Daxiatitan -- this is a particularly interesting specimen because the bone has clearly been faulted -- the upper (showing) surface of the hip end of the bone (left) has been sheared off from the rest of the bone and moved a few centimeters away from its natural position. I don't know that I've ever seen a dinosaur bone faulted quite this cleanly...!

  • Matt and Jessie examining a thoracic vertebra of the bizarre, herbivorous, "pot-bellied" therizinosauroid theropod Suzhousaurus, which Matt and I were fortunate enough to have helped Da-qing and Hailu describe a couple years ago. Da-qing and his team have recovered many new specimens of Suzhousaurus that will help us better understand this dinosaur, and make it one of the best-known therizinosaurs!

    Matt and Jessie examining a thoracic vertebra of the bizarre, herbivorous, "pot-bellied" therizinosauroid theropod Suzhousaurus, which Matt and I were fortunate enough to have helped Da-qing and Hailu describe a couple years ago. Da-qing and his team have recovered many new specimens of Suzhousaurus that will help us better understand this dinosaur, and make it one of the best-known therizinosaurs!

  • Here's the whole group plus Da-qing in his lab! From left to right: Christie, Jack, Brenna, Diane, Brad, Becky, me (kneeling), Mike, Hailu, Jessie, Matt, and Da-qing.

    Here's the whole group plus Da-qing in his lab! From left to right: Christie, Jack, Brenna, Diane, Brad, Becky, me (kneeling), Mike, Hailu, Jessie, Matt, and Da-qing.

  • Back outside: the mounted neck of Daxiatitan is almost complete...! This is part 1 of 2 of a panorama.

    Back outside: the mounted neck of Daxiatitan is almost complete...! This is part 1 of 2 of a panorama.

  • Part 2 of 2 of the panorama of the neck of Daxiatitan.

    Part 2 of 2 of the panorama of the neck of Daxiatitan.

  • After the tour of Da-qing's lab, we went to dinner with Da-qing and some of his crew. We were thus a big enough group that we had to be split to two tables; I was at the table with Jack, Matt, Jessie...

    After the tour of Da-qing's lab, we went to dinner with Da-qing and some of his crew. We were thus a big enough group that we had to be split to two tables; I was at the table with Jack, Matt, Jessie...

  • ...Brenna, Da-qing, the director of the Liujiaxia Geopark (whose name I shamefully have forgotten...!)...

    ...Brenna, Da-qing, the director of the Liujiaxia Geopark (whose name I shamefully have forgotten...!)...

  • ...and some of Da-qing's crew here drinking baijiu (pronounced "BAY-jo"). I don't know what to say about baijiu...there are the facts, like it is a sorghum-based liquor native (as far as I know) to China, it has a very licorice-like aftertaste (well, the "good" stuff does), and many natives (mostly men, that I've seen) drink it the way some of us drink water. Then there's my own personal opinions: it's a terrible, vile, evil drink that is only good for two things: degreasing engines and killing brain cells. 'Course, that's probably heavily biased seeing as what it did to me this very evening...

    ...and some of Da-qing's crew here drinking baijiu (pronounced "BAY-jo"). I don't know what to say about baijiu...there are the facts, like it is a sorghum-based liquor native (as far as I know) to China, it has a very licorice-like aftertaste (well, the "good" stuff does), and many natives (mostly men, that I've seen) drink it the way some of us drink water. Then there's my own personal opinions: it's a terrible, vile, evil drink that is only good for two things: degreasing engines and killing brain cells. 'Course, that's probably heavily biased seeing as what it did to me this very evening...

  • Stolid teetotaler Jessie is talked into trying a tiny shotglass of baijiu. Here she is toasting Da-qing before taking the dive...

    Stolid teetotaler Jessie is talked into trying a tiny shotglass of baijiu. Here she is toasting Da-qing before taking the dive...

  • The first sip...

    The first sip...

  • ...the last gulp... (in China, the frequent toast "gambe!" means you have to empty your glass).

    ...the last gulp... (in China, the frequent toast "gambe!" means you have to empty your glass).

  • ...the initial reaction...

    ...the initial reaction...

  • ...the second reaction...

    ...the second reaction...

  • ...the first intake of air in a post-baijiu world...

    ...the first intake of air in a post-baijiu world...

  • ...the first aftereffects...

    ...the first aftereffects...

  • ...a quick laugh...

    ...a quick laugh...

  • ...aaaaaand then the realization of what she's done. BTW, these shots of Jessie and the Baijiu work great as a flipbook!

    ...aaaaaand then the realization of what she's done. BTW, these shots of Jessie and the Baijiu work great as a flipbook!

  • Brenna, wisely remaining a teetotaler, observes Jessie's reactions.

    Brenna, wisely remaining a teetotaler, observes Jessie's reactions.

  • Brenna catches me spying on her through the camera...

    Brenna catches me spying on her through the camera...

  • Not to be outdone, the rest of the group got in on the baijiu action! Here Da-qing (left) begins his toast with (from left to right) Becky, Mike, Diane, and Brad.

    Not to be outdone, the rest of the group got in on the baijiu action! Here Da-qing (left) begins his toast with (from left to right) Becky, Mike, Diane, and Brad.

  • The height of the toast...

    The height of the toast...

  • }}}CLINK{{{

    }}}CLINK{{{

  • }}}GULP{{{

    }}}GULP{{{

  • }}}GASP{{{

    }}}GASP{{{

  • ...what, oh what have we done to ourselves...?!?

    ...what, oh what have we done to ourselves...?!?

  • Back at the other table, Mike (hidden), Becky, Brad, Christie, and Diane relive the Baijiu Experience.

    Back at the other table, Mike (hidden), Becky, Brad, Christie, and Diane relive the Baijiu Experience.

  • The next morning after my baijiu-induced coma, I get a visit from (drumroll) Pleasant Goat! To understand why I got this visit, you have to know the backstory: while we were in the airport in Beijing, awaiting the flight to Lanzhou, Matt, Jessie and I popped into a little cafe for some smoothies (I had "Mighty Berry," Jessie had "Raspberry Rash," and I can't recall what Matt had). The cafe was separated from a little book- and snack shop by a glass wall in which many books and things were on exhibit. I spotted what turned out to be a boxed set of DVDs of a show called -- I'm not making this up -- "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf." As we later learned, "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" is in China, what things like Spongebob Squarepants and Pokemon are in the U.S.: a bona fide smash hit, animated phenomenon. But before we knew that, we just thought the name was hilarious. Pleasant Goat become a de facto tour mascot.

    The next morning after my baijiu-induced coma, I get a visit from (drumroll) Pleasant Goat! To understand why I got this visit, you have to know the backstory: while we were in the airport in Beijing, awaiting the flight to Lanzhou, Matt, Jessie and I popped into a little cafe for some smoothies (I had "Mighty Berry," Jessie had "Raspberry Rash," and I can't recall what Matt had). The cafe was separated from a little book- and snack shop by a glass wall in which many books and things were on exhibit. I spotted what turned out to be a boxed set of DVDs of a show called -- I'm not making this up -- "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf." As we later learned, "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" is in China, what things like Spongebob Squarepants and Pokemon are in the U.S.: a bona fide smash hit, animated phenomenon. But before we knew that, we just thought the name was hilarious. Pleasant Goat become a de facto tour mascot.

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    Right outside Da-qing's lab, some of his crew are assembling the first-ever mount of the ginormous sauropod Daxiatitan, using casts made in the lab. Here the base of the neck is being assembled, suspended from the forklift. Da-qing and Hailu described Daxiatitan in 2008. This mount will be part of a forthcoming exhibit dedicated to dinosaurs from Gansu, more or less all of which Da-qing has been involved with.
    More of the mounting of the neck of Daxiatitan.