A triceratops skeleton that has been on display since 1905 at the Smithsonian Institution’s museum in Washington DC is cracking up due to vibrations and moisture from visitors walking past and breathing near the specimen. (New Scientist October 23, 1999. p26) Moisture converts iron and sulphur compounds in the bones to iron sulphide, which causes the bones to crumble. Other museums are contending with similar problems in displays of real fossil bones.

Editorial Comment: The fact that this specimen is degenerating after “only”95 years exposed inside a museum is also a good indication it did not lie around long waiting to be slowly buried. For dinosaur bones to have been so well preserved they can be mounted as a museum display, the animal had to be rapidly and deeply buried. i.e. a Flood deposit.

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