Livro de actas - Geopark Naturtejo

DINÓPOLIS TERUEL (ESPAÑA): UNA EXPERIENCIA EDUCATIVA Y DE DESARROLLO LOCAL DESDE LAPALEONTOLOGÍAA. Cobos, L. Alcalá e R. Royo-Torres > Fundación Conjunto Paleontológico de Teruel-Dinópolis. Avda Sagunto s/nEdificio Dinópolis. 44002 Teruel. cobos@dinopolis.comABSTRACTDinópolis Teruel is an ambitious economic and scientific project that had been built by the AragónGovernment. In Dinópolis, there is a symbiotic relation between culture and leisure. In this wayPalaeontology should arrive to all people in spite of their different knowledge about this subject.Diversity, richness and scientific knowledge of the fossils from Teruel are quite important. Ranging fromthe Cambrian to Recent periods, the Teruel province (Aragón, Spain) has a complete sedimentary record,usually containing fossil sites which have been studied in the literature since the 18th century.Several continental mammal stages (Ramblian, Turolian and Alfambrian) have been established in theTeruel Neogene basins and numerous new species from different groups of plants and animals have theirtype-locality in Teruel. Besides, especially well preserved fossils have been drawn from the Teruel Fossil-Lagerstätten (such as the Miocene frogs from Libros, and insects from Rubielos de Mora). Last, but noleast, dinosaur fossils (both bones and tracks) are represented in Jurassic and Cretaceous levels (includingone of the first two sites where Spanish dinosaurs were recorded).In this framework, a "3D" handbook of Palaeontology is in progress. The first and biggest chapter, the mainHistory of Life in our planet, was presented in June, 2001, in Teruel city: a building of more than 10.000square meters (Dinópolis). In the tour of Dinópolis, in its central office in Teruel city, there are two differentareas to present the Palaeontology and the evolution of life: first you can move back in time in aspectacular and funny way, similar to the movies, following the most relevant events occurred from the originof the Universe to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Here the main didactic objective is to awake an interestfor this science, above all among the youngest. In second place, the Palaeontological Museum ofTeruel, where through different rooms, the visitor interacts constantly with the main protagonist: the fossil.Beginning with the palaeontological laboratory and the ramp of the geological times, going throughthe Aquatic Life Hall, the Dinosaurs Hall and ending with the Mammals Hall. In this part the aim is to passon, in a pleasant way, simple basic concepts on the life in the past, such as the geological time, the evolutionof living creatures and the palaeontological diversity.To achieve these goals various resources have been developed:1.- There is an exhibition of original fossils from all over the world and casts of big vertebrate skeletons,providing the museum with a spectacular appearance.2.- There are also original fossils from Teruel, giving it its own identify and discovering the importance ofthe Palaeontology of the province.3.- Original fossils to touch.4.- Live performances along the tour attempting to make the visitors understand very basic concepts onthis science. Always keeping in mind that they have to be attractive for the general public.5.- Using short, simple and understandable texts.6.- Giving continuous advice on the exhibition by our staff, in continuous training.7.- Impressive design and lighting, to stand out the exhibited items and to introduce the visitor in a fascinatingatmosphere.In addition, the Project consists of Territorio Dinópolis: six minor satellite Museums located near emblematicpalaeontological sites (together with the main Dinópolis building, they constitute the so called "A3D handbook of Palaeontology", Alcalá et al., 2002). The topics are:75