Paleontology

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Paleontological resources, or fossils, are the remains, imprints or traces of once-living organisms preserved in rocks, sediments, tar, amber, and other settings.  Fossils include bones and teeth of reptiles such as dinosaurs, as well as skeletal and soft tissue remains of fish, amphibians, birds, and mammals.  They also include shells of mollusks and insects, wood, leaves and flowers, footprints, burrows, and remains of microscopic organisms.  Paleontological resources include not only fossils themselves, but also the associated rocks or organic matter and the physical characteristics of the associated sedimentary matrix.  Fossils are considered non-renewable resources because the organisms they represent no longer exist. 

Paleontological resources are considered to have scientific importance, and are protected under certain federal (NEPA, FLPMA, OPLA-PRP) state, county, and city laws and ordinances.  The BLM and some other federal agencies have developed regulations for the management, protection, education, and recreational uses of fossils on the lands they administer.  This includes permitting requirements and mitigation guidelines for surface disturbing projects. 

SWCA’s Paleontology Program is well-versed in the OPLA-PRP and similar legislation. Our program is active across the United States, and we are fully permitted and maintain curation agreements with major regional museums. Our expertise with research and analysis, field work, laboratory fossil preparation, and regulatory requirements is truly unique in the rapidly evolving field of paleontological consulting.  We pride ourselves in our ability to provide innovative, cost-effective, and common-sense strategies for the management of paleontological resources.  Our goal is to ensure that our public and private sector clients achieve their project goals while effectively managing paleontological resources and meeting regulatory requirements.

Services include:

Read more about the field of Paleontology from the Bureau of Land Management, or view a slideshow on our Multimedia page (scroll down to “SWCA Paleontology Photo Slideshow”).