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Central Asiatic Expeditions : fossils and artifacts

 Collection
Identifier: Film Collection no. 147

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

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.

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

Contact:
American Museum of Natural History
200 Central Park West
New York NY 10024 USA
(212) 769-5420