Central Asiatic Expeditions : fossils and artifacts
Scope and Contents
Filmed during the AMNH Third Asiatic Expedition to China and Mongolia, 1921-1930. The film records the paleontological finds of the expedition. The most important is shown first: the discovery of the "perfect dozen" nest of dinosaur eggs by George Olsen, paleontologist, at the Flaming Cliffs of Shabarakh Usu in the Gobi Desert. Bones of Baluchitherium, one of the largest land mammals, a hornless relative of today's rhinoceros, and Embolitherium, an Oligocene mammal, are also seen being excavated. Nels Christian Nelson, AMNH archaeologist, studies Neolithic artifacts of the Dune Dwellers. The fossils are covered with fabric and plaster of paris to protect them while in transport, and are packed in well-padded cases. When the padding was used up the camels were luckily molting. The molted fur is plucked from the caravan camels and used as packing material. The loaded camel caravan, with American flags flying, then crosses the dunes of the Gobi Desert.
Dates
- 1925
Creator
- Central Asiatic Expeditions (1921-1930) (Organization)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
Not available through interlibrary loan. Contact AMNH Library Special Collections for terms of access.
Extent
1 Film Reel (19 minutes) : silent, black and white ; 16 mm.
1 Videocassette (U-Matic (19 minutes)) : silent, black and white ; 3/4 in.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
3/4 in., U-Matic, viewing copy
General
Original format: 16 mm. print; incomplete.
General
James Barnes Shackelford, photographer.
Creator
- Central Asiatic Expeditions (1921-1930) (Organization)
- American Museum of Natural History (Organization)
- Shackelford, James B. (Photographer, Person)
- Andrews, Roy Chapman, 1884-1960 (Person)
- Olsen, George, d. 1939 (Person)
- Nelson, N. C. (Nels Christian), 1875-1964 (Person)
Source
- Central Asiatic Expeditions Films (1921-1930) (Organization)
- Title
- Central Asiatic Expeditions : fossils and artifacts, 1925
- Author
- Iris Lee
- Date
- 2018
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Museum Archives at the Gottesman Research Library Repository
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park West
New York NY 10024 USA
(212) 769-5420
[email protected]