The day I stopped cleaning bones with a toothbrush and switched to a soft artist brush

I used to spend hours scratching at tiny crevices in animal bones with a toothbrush and water, thinking that was the only way. After a bad accident where I chipped a fossilized bird skull last summer, a guy at a local dig site in Colorado showed me how he uses a soft artist's brush and dry brushing technique. Now I can get into all those little details without damaging the bone or losing any delicate bits. It took me about 3 tries to get the pressure right, but once I did, my finds look way cleaner. Has anyone else made the switch from wet cleaning to dry brushes, or am I late to the party?

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1 Comment

harperb461mo ago

Oh man, I totally feel your pain, I snapped the tip off a raccoon jawbone using a wet toothbrush last year, switch was a game changer for me.