Welcome to the Blog

Hello, and welcome to "A Field of Mud and Bone." This blog will attempt to cover the vast and intriguing intersection of vertebrate taphonomy (predominantly dinosaurs) and sedimentology. Taphonomy is a rapidly growing field in vertebrate paleontology, while sedimentology is one that has historically struggled for proper recognition. I will try to vigilantly track the former while giving the latter its due. But first, introductions:

- My primary goal is to publicize aspects of vertebrate paleontology and sedimentology that are particularly fascinating or neglected. Both of these fields are broad, and occasional posts of a strictly biologic or geologic focus will occur. Posts focused on other scientific fields, or even outside of science, will try to be kept to a minimum, and will hopefully be at least tangentially related to vert paleo and seds. But there's just so much cool stuff to talk about....

- The title of this blog comes from the Bruce Springsteen song "Devils & Dust." The song is about the travails of soldiers in the Iraq War, but the phrase is perfectly fitting for vertebrate taphonomy.

- In the end, I am admittedly still a halfway developed graduate student. If someone out there has already written about something I post, responses of "Hey, dummy, you ever read (insert reference here)?" may not be enjoyed, but they will probably be valued.