Oxford's Ancient Dinosaur Museum Unveils Epic New Exhibits and Moon Sculpture

The Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the oldest natural history museum in the UK, has just completed a major project to update and improve its displays. Located on Park Road, the museum has been open to the public since 1860 and is now 166 years old. The project, called 'Life, as we know it,' has added more than 3,000 objects to the museum's collection, making it more exciting and educational for visitors. One of the highlights of the new displays is the Megalosaurus, a Jurassic dinosaur whose name means 'great lizard. ' This dinosaur was discovered in a quarry in Stonesfield, Oxfordshire, in the late 18th century. It was the first dinosaur ever to be given a scientific name, and its fossilized remains were shown to the Geological Society of London by Professor William Buckland in 1824. The Megalosaurus bones are huge, measuring nine meters long and weighing about a tonne. They are now part of a new exhibit about prehistoric ecosystems, showing what life was like millions of years ago.

The museum also features two other dinosaurs from Oxfordshire: the predatory Eustreptospondylus, found in Summertown in 1870, and Cumnoria, discovered in Cumnor in 1879. These dinosaurs are displayed alongside the Megalosaurus, giving visitors a chance to learn about the different types of dinosaurs that once lived in the area. In total, the museum has installed 48 new displays in 24 modern showcases. These displays are organized around themes like biodiversity, ecosystems, evolution, and the Earth. The museum says that together, these exhibits show the complex relationships between our planet and the life it supports.

Visitors to the museum can do more than just look at fossils. There are touchable mineral specimens, a sculpture that recreates the surface of the Moon, and a virtual exploration of ancient ocean ecosystems from the Jurassic and Cambrian periods. The final phase of the project was supported by Biffa Award, which helps communities through the government's Landfill Communities Fund. Professor Irene Tracey, the vice-chancellor of Oxford University, said that the completion of 'Life, as we know it' is a big achievement. She believes the new displays will help people of all ages learn about the history of our planet and the amazing variety of life on it. The museum's director, Dr. Gavin Svenson, said the new displays bring together thousands of specimens to tell some of the most important stories in science. The museum hopes that the new exhibits will inspire visitors to learn more about natural history and the world around them.