Leading Oxford scientists granted Falconer Museum access as part of fossil research project
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TWO leading scientists were granted access to the Falconer Museum in Forres as part of a fossil research project last week.
The Friends of the Falconer Museum welcomed Dr Christopher Stimpson and Dr Emma Nicholls from the Oxford University Museum of Natural History over two days as they conducted research on the fossils housed within the museum.
Hugh Falconer, whom the museum is named after alongside his brother Alexander, brought back five tons of fossils from the Siwalik Hills of northern India in 1842.
Dr Stimpson’s research seeks to catalogue collections of these fossils that are dispersed among museums throughout Britain and Ireland.
Dr Stimpson said: "Thanks to a grant from the Friends of the Falconer Museum, I've travelled up with Dr Emma Nichols as part of research into fossils from the foothills of the Himalayas that we call the Siwaliks.
"I'm interested in building an inventory and trying to find where everything is because they're quite dispersed.
"There are collections in London, there are collections in Dublin, in Oxford, Shropshire so this is part of that wider research project but we're here to conduct an assessment of the fossils in Forres and hopefully try to elevate Hugh Falconer and the museum itself."
The pair examined over 300 fossils on the first day alone. That included fossils of extinct mammals such as mastodon, rhinoceros, giraffe and a giant tortoise.
However, Dr Stimpson says that his research also seeks to uncover the 'hidden side' to the fossils.
"I firmly believe that the palaeontology of the foothills of India and Pakistan is not as well known as it should be," he said.
"It's part of British Colonial history which we all need to really square up to and give a good shake. There are lessons that can be learned from that. I'm very interested in looking at local Indian communities that were involved in the collection of the fossils who perhaps didn't get any credit for that, so bringing out the hidden side of these fossils is really important."
Moray Council granted the duo special access to the museum, which has remained closed since April 2020, for their research.
Dr Stimpson added: "I'm a big advocate for museums. They're great places to inspire curiosity so I think they're great benefits to our community."
