Let’s get this out of the way: I am a sucker for scientific art, period. This particular work, a fossilization machine, was created for the Tatton Biennial by Austin Houldsworth. He is attempting to use this machine to create fossils in a matter of months, a process that usually takes thousands of years and requires specific circumstances to be present. According to his project description, “the project starts with the attempt to petrify both a Tatton-grown pineapple and pheasant, and conclude when it is a human that ends up fossilised.”
A side view of the apparatus showing some sort of valve mounted on its wooden structure.
Josh, you find the coolest stuff! Any insight on how this thing works? I’m not overly familiar with the fossilisation process…
Justin! From what I remember and have read, a dead organism needs to be covered with sediment almost immediately otherwise it decomposes. From then I guess it chemically converts to minerals…slowly. Cool stuff!
As for the actual machine, I don’t remember the article going into too much detail. Either that or I didn’t read into enough. ha