{"id":102303,"date":"2025-02-07T09:11:50","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T09:11:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoic.it\/non-categorizzato\/dorset-gennaio-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-02-11T17:30:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-11T17:30:11","slug":"dorset-gennaio-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoic.it\/en\/travel-diary\/dorset-gennaio-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Dorset January 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When people talk about fossils, dinosaurs and paleontology, they often think only of the scientific aspect: the study, the research, the publications. But behind every find are stories that few people know. Roaring journeys, unexpected encounters, hiccups, sometimes even memorable disasters. <\/p>\n\n

So why not tell them?<\/p>\n\n

I want to take you with me behind the scenes of this extraordinary work, sharing the adventures, challenges and surprises that accompany each expedition. And what better place to start than a journey in 2025? The first of many stories that I hope you will be passionate about. <\/p>\n\n

Dorset | January 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Travelers:<\/p>\n\n

– Giorgia – Coordinator<\/p>\n\n

– Manfredi – Paleontological Preparator<\/p>\n\n

After months of frantic work by the entire Zoic team, the fossil collection is finally ready for travel. Destination: a historic estate in Dorset, where we will set up the material in person. <\/p>\n\n

New place, new client — anxiety? That’s the usual one, the ever-present performance anxiety. Will it be all right? <\/p>\n\n

I will not dwell (for now) on the bureaucratic problems involved in transporting fossils from one country to another. It is a little considered but incredibly sensitive aspect of our work. We will certainly talk about it on another occasion. Now, however, let’s get going: the adventure begins. <\/p>\n\n

January 16: It’s on!<\/h2>\n\n

Trieste \u2192 Venice \u2192 London Heathrow \u2192 Beaminster (Dorset)<\/p>\n\n

Have you ever driven on the right? If yes, you will know that it is not exactly immediate, nor is it always fun. To me, it seemed like I had to brace myself, at any moment, for impact with a car coming out of nowhere! But with a little caution and a lot of attention, we finally arrived at our destination. Beaminster<\/a><\/strong> (would you know how to pronounce it correctly?) is a typically English little gem: cottages juxtaposed, streetlights illuminating the street shrouded in a lingering mist, a subtle drizzle–an atmosphere that seems straight out of a Thomas Hardy novel.<\/p>\n\n

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Fortunately, in 25 years of work I have understood one thing: choosing where to sleep is crucial. If you find a place that is clean, cozy, and has good food, you are already more predisposed to think-and convince yourself-that your job will go great. And indeed, the Ollerod Hotel<\/a> was an apt choice: friendly staff, spacious and impeccable rooms, great food, and a mouthwatering breakfast. <\/p>\n\n

All downhill, then? I wish! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Our exhibits – ten in total – were supposed to arrive the next day. Too bad they were stuck in customs. An eight-hour delay out of a sixteen-hour work window: basically a disaster. The weekend was shaping up to be long and busy.The only bright side? The unexpected time for a visit to Lyme Regis<\/a>, the famous coastal town. <\/p>\n\n

Mary Anning<\/p>\n\n

Paleontology enthusiasts know that Lyme Regis is the hometown of Mary Anning<\/a>, considered the pioneer of world paleontology. Born in 1799, from an early age she followed her father’s passion, spending her days on the coast searching for fossils to sell to tourists and collectors. <\/p>\n\n

But her talents went far beyond trade. Through her extraordinary curiosity and expert eye, Mary made discoveries that revolutionized the world of paleontology: ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, pterosaurs, and more. Although she had no formal scientific training, she was recognized by the greatest scholars of the time for her expertise and the value of her research. <\/p>\n\n

The well-deserved official recognition, however, came only in 2010, when the Royal Society included her in its list of the 10 British women who have most influenced the history of science.<\/p>\n\n

For those who love fossils, a visit to this stretch of coastline is a must. The Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a veritable open-air geology book: the rocks here tell millions of years of history, from the Triassic to the Jurassic to the Cretaceous. <\/p>\n\n

We indulged in an hour-long walk to the base of the cliffs and, as every enthusiast secretly hopes, had the satisfaction of finding a few ammonites. A small confirmation of how much this coast is still a paradise for fossil hunters. <\/p>\n\n

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A stop at this stretch of coastline is therefore a must for all fossil lovers. Walking the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one finds rocks dating back to the Triassic, Jurassic,and Cretaceous periods. We indulged in an hour-long walk to the base of the cliffs, and the discovery of a few ammonites made us realize how rich in finds these places are. <\/p>\n\n

1 p.m.: Time to return to Parnham Park<\/a><\/strong> To start assembling our fossils…:<\/p>\n\n

We have 10 specimens:Wyoming fish in plate, a Mosasaurus skull, a Megalocerus skull, a fossil palm, a heron skeleton , a 3-D original Xiphactynus skeleton and a large, and when I say large I mean really large, Mammoth skeleton.<\/p>\n\n

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1 p.m.: time to return to Parnham Park<\/a><\/p>\n\n

It is time to start assembling our fossils. We have ten specimens: <\/p>\n\n

– Wyoming fish in slabs,<\/p>\n\n

– A Mosasaurus skull,<\/p>\n\n

– A Megalocerus skull,<\/p>\n\n

– a fossil palm tree,<\/p>\n\n

– A heron skeleton,<\/p>\n\n

– an original 3-D Xiphactinus skeleton, – and a large — indeed, a giant Mammoth skeleton.<\/p>\n\n

We were ready. Too bad the crates never arrived! <\/p>\n\n

I told you what they contained, but perhaps it is more important to share another number: 4,000 kilograms of paleontological material to be unloaded from a curved truck. At night. <\/p>\n\n

The truck arrives at 6 p.m., we have two hours to unload everything. The road is unpaved, the unloading area is 500 meters from the assembly hall, and to top it all off, it is totally dark. <\/p>\n\n

If anything could have gone wrong…<\/p>\n\n

Fortunately, Dave-a local staffer-taken by compassion, stops well past his working hours to help us. In two hours we manage to haul all the materials to the yard near the entrance. We were ready to spend the night working (it would not be the first time), but with 3 humid degrees and pitch blackness, we wisely decided to postpone. <\/p>\n\n

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Jan. 18: we work<\/h2>\n\n

Fortunately, a four-person team comes to our aid. As good, strong and experienced as they are, with two of them without means to move weights, we would not have had a chance. <\/p>\n\n

Their support is only provided for half a day, so we take advantage of every minute.<\/p>\n\n

Step one: open the cases, inspect each artifact for damage, consolidate fragile parts, and disassemble supporting structures.<\/p>\n\n

Time taken? Five hours. <\/p>\n\n

But there is good news: everything arrived intact. And I assure you, this is by no means a given! <\/p>\n\n

In these first hours of work, all samples have been unpacked, crates closed and prepared for storage. Now the real challenge begins: staging. <\/p>\n\n

After years of experience, we know exactly where to start. Method is everything: you have to assemble the heaviest and bulkiest parts first, leaving the lighter and more manageable parts for last. And I assure you that a mammoth skull, pelvis and femurs are not exactly “manageable.” <\/p>\n\n

Meanwhile, an exceptional piece enters the scene: a three-meter slab containing an ichthyosaur skeleton, prepared with incredible skill by my traveling companion and colleague Manfredi, Zoic’s senior preparator. It takes five people to move it. <\/p>\n\n

What about the rest?<\/p>\n\n

The rest we assemble the two of us. We are used to it. If you know the steps-and you only know them with experience-you know what to assemble first and what to leave for last. It’s all a matter of weights and joints. <\/p>\n\n

Three hours later, after many turns of an Allen wrench, screwdriver and just a few dots of glue, the room is set up.<\/p>\n\n

The architect who supervised and commissioned the work is satisfied. Good place to start-or finish, depending on your point of view! <\/p>\n\n

Behind the scenes of a staging<\/p>\n\n

I have dwelt on the practical aspects of mounting these exhibits, but there is an even more complex element: the context in which the work is done.<\/p>\n\n

It is never just a room. It is an environment that has to harmonize with the exhibits, enhance them with lighting, layout, first impression. And every client is different. I assure you that no two setups are the same! <\/p>\n\n

Ours is not just physical work. It is not simply a matter of moving fossils from one point to another: we must know how to do it, methodically and precisely, otherwise we risk irreparable damage. <\/p>\n\n

This is well known by those in our trade who follow the entire supply chain, from preparation to assembly, from packing to disassembly and reassembly.<\/p>\n\n

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8 p.m.: mission accomplished<\/h2>\n\n

Last evening. We get back to the hotel just in time for dinner – thankfully! Here in the north we eat early and the kitchens close at the time of our Italian aperitivo! <\/p>\n\n

A shower that lasts an eternity, then a well-deserved rest.<\/p>\n\n

It’s back home.<\/h3>\n\n

And there is already thinking about the next adventure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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