 Reference Base  Geoheritage and Education: a Practical Example from the R... |
|
Barasoain, D.; Azanza, B., 2017. Geoheritage and Education: a Practical Example from the Rhinoceros of Toril 3 (Calatayud-Daroca Basin, Spain). Geoheritage 10 (3): 363–374
|
|
|
|
| |
| Location: |
Europe |
| Subject: |
Taxonomy |
| Species: |
Fossil |
 |
|
|
The middle Miocene (Aragonian) sites of Toril 3 (Daroca, Aragón, Spain) have provided one of the most important collections of vertebrates from the Calatayud-Daroca basin. The extremely high fossiliferous sites of Toril 3 have geoheritage values, not only for the diversity, importance, and excellent state of preservation of the ancient life recovered but also for taphonomic, biochronological, and museological interest. Rhinoceroses are mainly represented at the sites of Toril 3A and 3B and form one of the best preserved collection of Alicornops simorrense (Lartet) in Europe. Alicornops is a hornless rhinoceros with short limbs and a bulky body, which is believed to be one of the few gregarious rhinos that have existed. Some specimens of A. simorrense, specifically a skull and a jaw, form part of the permanent exhibition of paleontology in the Museum of Natural Sciences of the University of Zaragoza. We believe that these pieces have great potential as an educational tool to disseminate concepts about bio- and geoconservation to society. Detailed research has been carried out on the paleobiological information that can be obtained by observing the specimens, which can later be adapted for an educational application. The intention is to facilitate for public understanding the results of research based on the material of the museum, as well as providing visitors with an understanding of the depth of history of millions of years for extant organisms, while developing an ethic that includes at its core a long-term custody of both fossil and present day species for future generations to enjoy. In order to achieve this objective, a number of questions about the specimens of Alicornops simorrense have been answered with a verbal presentation that can be adapted to different kinds of public in order to facilitate teaching in the museum. This paper also provides different types of resources that can be used to attract people’s attention and stimulate visitors during the presentation.
|
|
|
File available
details
Original text on this topic: