What is the fossil research experience at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum?
In conjunction with the renovation of the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, an indoor experience is now available.
You can experience the process of fossil research, such as finding and identifying fossils, assembling a skull to learn its structure, extracting dinosaur teeth with special tools, and looking at the inside of a fossil through CT images. It's a real experience that fits the theme of "Experience the 'REAL' of research."
Details of the fossil research experience
・Time required: Approximately 2 hours
・Experience fee: Fossil research experience + permanent exhibition admission ticket (2,200 yen for adults, 1,800 yen for high school and university students, 1,100 yen for elementary and junior high school students, 1,100 yen for those 70 years and older)
*For elementary school students and above (elementary school students must be accompanied by a guardian or guardian equivalent)
There is nothing in particular you need to prepare. Just make sure you make a reservation for the fossil research experience. If there are vacancies on the day, you can purchase tickets on the day, but it is expected to be crowded during busy periods such as summer vacation, so it is better to make a reservation in advance.
To make a reservation, click here
Flow of the experience
Please check in at the fossil research experience counter 10 minutes before the start time.
Participants will be divided into groups 1 and 2 for each experience. Specialized staff will provide detailed explanations in each experience room.
The experience finally begins
This experience took place in February, so we will introduce three types of reports: fossil excavation, fossil cleaning, and CT fossil observation.
1. Fossil Excavation Plus (mid-November to mid-April)
Using specialized tools such as hammers and chisels, you will find and identify fossils in rocks that are actually used in research.
Putting on goggles, you choose the rocks you want to break. It's like a mining site, so your expectations grow as you wonder if you'll be able to find anything.
Once you've set the rocks, it's time to start fossil excavation!
Using special tools such as hammers, the rocks are broken into pieces.
I was nervous from start to finish, wondering if I would find something when I broke it open. And lo and behold, I found a snail fossil.
It was my first time excavating a fossil, and I was excited to find a snail fossil.
The fossil was so small that I could have easily missed it, but the staff member kindly helped me find it.
②Fossil cleaning (year-round)
You will use specialized tools actually used in research to carve the rocks, extract replicas of dinosaur fossils from Chatan, and experience the realism of fossil cleaning.
First, we practice using special tools for cleaning fossils using rocks. Once we get used to using them, it's time for the real thing! We take out the dinosaur replicas from Chatan.
I was a bit worried about whether I would be able to do it if I was clumsy, but I found it to be fun, like a treasure hunt. As I dug with a soft touch, I gradually began to see replicas of fossils.
I imagine that museum researchers do this work every day...
Before you know it, you'll be thinking, "Oh, it's come out, it's come out!" and the cleaning will be
I was able to safely dig up a 7cm-long theropod tooth. The fossil cleaning experience gave me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and I started to feel like a researcher and it was fun.
3) CT fossil observation (year-round)
Using CT data from X-ray scans, we can observe fossils inside rocks and their interiors, examining their contents without destroying the fossils.
The experience workshop is a room like this, with real fossils on display right in front of you as you sit, allowing you to work while looking at the fossils you are observing.
You can learn by coloring the CT scanned fossil images and reading the explanations of the fossils. You can proceed with the observation work while listening to detailed explanations from specialized staff. You can rotate the cross section of the scanned data left and right on the screen, and color it to make the cross section look beautiful.
④T.rex skull reconstruction (late April to early November)
Using hints, participants will work together in groups of 1 to 4 to assemble a life-size Tyrannosaurus skull, learning about the structure of bones and the restoration process.
We weren't able to try this out this time, but if you're coming along between spring and autumn, you can try assembling a Tyrannosaurus skull.
*There are three types of experiences you can actually research.
You can experience three types of activities: T.rex skull reconstruction or fossil excavation plus, fossil cleaning, and CT fossil observation.
From late April to early November, you can experience the T.rex skull reconstruction, and from mid-November to mid-April, you can experience the fossil excavation plus. Please note that the schedule varies depending on the season.
Comes with easy-to-understand explanations, so even beginners can follow along!
A specialized staff member will accompany you for each research experience. You will watch an explanatory video before you start, so don't worry! At first, I was worried whether I would be able to complete the experience, but the staff member explained everything to me carefully, so I was able to proceed with the work with peace of mind.
The experience took about two hours, but it went by in a flash. It was a valuable experience to experience "fossil research work," which cannot be experienced in the permanent exhibition.
The park also offers fossil excavation experiences.
Outside the Dinosaur Museum, you can also take part in the outdoor Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest "Dinosaur Fossil Excavation Experience." However, please note that this event is only held from late March to late November (closed during the winter).
For inquiries about fossil excavation experiences within the park, please contact the Katsuyama Dinosaur Forest Park Management Office at 0779-88-8777.
Click here to apply for a reservation
summary
Until the end Thank you for reading.
This time, we introduced the new fossil research experience that will be available when the Dinosaur Museum reopens in July 2023.
It was very exciting to be able to have such realistic experiences as cleaning and X-ray examination.
If you'd like to try your hand at fossil research, this is the place to come.
