Report on the Eggshell Cutting Process of the Extinct Malagasy Elephant Bird Aepyornis

Abstract

Cutting of the eggshell of an extinct ratite, the Elephant Bird (Aepyornis), was undertaken to obtain the egg contents previously observed by Computed Tomography, for the aim of extracting DNA from the egg contents for future analytical study. Furthermore, in addition to obtaining uncontaminated samples from the eggshell, it was also required to establish an accurate cutting method that permitted egg reconstruction. We here describe in detail a technique of use in cutting invaluable half-fossilized eggshells, based upon a method using hand-worked bow saws.