831 Geological Heritage Items Including Dinosaur Claw Fossils Nationally Owned

Cultural Heritage Administration "Related Materials to Be Released Later"

On the 10th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that 831 geological heritage specimens, including dinosaur egg fossils of sauropods from Seoul National University and dinosaur claw fossils from Kyungpook National University Natural History Museum, have been designated as national property through the specimen cataloging project. The geological heritage specimen cataloging is a national property designation process that involves a thorough survey of fossils and rocks in blind spots to evaluate their value and ensure their preservation and management. This has been conducted since 2000 based on the 'Cultural Heritage Protection and Investigation Act.'

Dinosaur claw fossil at Kyungpook National University Museum of Natural History

The Cultural Heritage Administration registers and manages information such as specimen type, size, origin, history, and original photos in the 'Geological Heritage Specimen Management System.' The decision on national property designation is made considering rarity, aesthetic value, and academic significance. The designated geological heritage specimens are transferred to and managed by eight institutions: Kyungpook National University Natural History Museum (99 specimens), Mokpo Natural History Museum (108 specimens), Seoul National University (50 specimens), Jeju Stone Culture Park Management Office (91 specimens), Jinju Pterosaur Footprint Exhibition Hall (73 specimens), Jeongseon County Office (26 specimens), Taebaek Paleozoic Natural History Museum (336 specimens), and the Korea Cave Research Institute (48 specimens).

A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated, "We plan to open related data managed in the Geological Heritage Specimen Management System in the future," and added, "We will continuously promote the national property designation system to protect valuable natural heritage from damage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.