Examination of nontraditional materials for microvertebrate fossil screenwashing

The Cifelli Lab at the University of Oklahoma, USA, both championed and systematized the use of nested screenboxes for sediment processing in the effort to isolate microvertebrate fossil remains. These particular methods have become the standard of the industry and are capable of winnowing thousands of kilograms of matrix down to quantities that can be reasonably picked through by hand. Other methods for screenwashing using non-traditional materials have been suggested, including nylon mesh bags and paint sieves. In this brief report, the efficacy of both of those newer materials is systemically analyzed and the pros and cons of all three methods are discussed.