Tracing the evolution of life on Earth

Among these fossils is a specimen of Ursus Spelaeus (cave bear), which inhabited our mountains until approximately 30,000 years ago.

The collection as a whole offers a comprehensive insight into the evolution of life on Earth.

Numerous fossils from the site and surrounding areas are on display, including a specimen of Plesiosaurus, a marine reptile that lived 80 million years ago, commonly associated with the “mythical Loch Ness monster.”.

MMany specimens on display are not only rare but also unique. These include two large marine reptiles, an entire specimen of Dyrosaurus, and, recently, the Museum has been enriched by an important Mosasaurus fossil measuring 5 metres in length dating back to the end of the Cretaceous period. Mosasaurs (whose name means ‘lizard of the River Meuse’) were large marine reptiles that lived in the Upper Cretaceous around 70 million years ago. They were the largest reptiles to have lived on Earth, after the dinosaurs: some species were 17 metres long.

The collection of fossil plants, particularly the beautiful specimens of Carboniferous ferns, holds significant scientific value, documenting the evolutionary history of plants.

Certain fossil groups on display, such as trilobites and ammonites, play a crucial role in the relative dating of sedimentary rocks. They help to interpret the depositional environment in which these rocks were formed. Additionally, these fossils provide invaluable evidence for reconstructing the evolution of life and understanding the geological and climatic events that have shaped our planet over the past approximately 540 million years.