Toward a predictive taphonomy

FROM THE EDITORS: Toward a predictive taphonomy A favorite children's questions about fossils (usually regarding dinosaurs) is "How do you know where to find them?" In other words, "Can we, as paleontologists, predict where fossils are most abundant and best preserved?" Of course, many paleontologists have an intuitive feel (a sixth sense of sorts), based on experience and knowledge, of where to look (and where not to look). We believe that taphonomic research has reaches a point where accurate predictions regarding patterns of fossil occurrence can and should be made. During the past several years numerous empirical, semi-empirical and "ivory tower" models have been published. These models predict patterns of distribution among taphonomic attributes that correspond to various physico-chemical parameters. These patterns presumably reflect our increased knowledge of the physical and chemical conditions necessary for fossilization and improvements in our understanding of the sedimentologic, climatic, and tectonic controls on these conditions. By using these models as predictive tolls we test their validity and open wide a diversity of new applications. We are especially excited about the possibility of merging models of fossil preservation with newly developed models of basin evolution and sequence stratigraphy. We believe the time has come for paleontologists to make predictions (based upon their models) about where the next Burgess Shale or Mazon Creek type deposits might be found. DDD would be glad to hear about the success of your predictions!