Palaeontological preparation laboratories

The palaeontological preparation laboratories at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin offer specialised facilities and expertise for the preparation of fossilised remains of plants, animals and tracks. The material processed comes primarily from the museum’s collections and is supplemented by finds from excavations carried out by researchers and members of the palaeontological preparation team, as well as by items on loan from other natural history institutions. 

The preparation work serves both current scientific research and the conservation management of collection and exhibition objects. In addition to mechanical and chemical processes, casts of selected fossils are also produced to enable work with manageable replicas of the originals. Furthermore, the laboratories prepare fossils for analytical procedures and package them for transport and long-term storage. The work is carried out in close collaboration with the palaeontological collections, researchers, students and other laboratory and preparation units within the museum. 

What are palaeontological preparation laboratories used for?

The palaeontological preparation laboratories are particularly suitable for: 

• mechanical and chemical preparation of fossil specimens 
• conservation and restoration work on collection and exhibition items 
• preparing fossil material for scientific analysis 
• the production of casts and replicas 
• Processing of large-scale fossils (e.g. dinosaurs, large mammals) 
• Interdisciplinary projects in collaboration with collections, research and exhibitions 

Contact

Dr Daniela Schwarz
Head of Laboratory & Contact Person
Email: Daniela.Schwarz@mfn.berlin
Telephone: +49 30 889140-8754

PD Dr Oliver Hampe
Head of Laboratory
Email: Oliver.Hampe@mfn.berlin
Telephone: +49 30 889140-8678

Markus Brinkmann
Laboratory staff
Email: markus.brinkmann@mfn.berlin
Telephone: +49 30 889140-9020

Moritz Maier
Laboratory staff
Email: moritz.maier@mfn.berlin 

Marten Schöle
Laboratory staff
Email: marten.schoele@mfn.berlin
Telephone: +49 30 889140-8827

Features

• Five preparation workstations equipped with pneumatic engraving tools, Enseka fine-grinding machines and stereomicroscopes 
• Two preparation workstations with fine-jet devices (Paleotek, Hasenfratz) 
• Three rock saws (Kaufmann-Titan Type 9334003, Row Rathenow, Woco 50) 
• Multifunctional room for large objects with workshop equipment and extraction technology 
• Workstation for casting techniques (silicones, latex, epoxy and polyester resins, plaster) 
• Fume cupboard for chemical work 
• Camera microscope with live transmission (Leica S9i) 
• Storage facilities for fossils and working materials 

Laboratory procedures and analytical methods

• Mechanical fossil preparation (for specimens from collections, excavations and explorations) 
• Chemical fossil preparation  
• Fine-jet preparation 
• Sawing and cutting of rock and fossil blocks 
• Preparation for thin sections, ground sections and peels 
• Production of casts (silicone, latex, synthetic resins, plaster) 
• Conservation stabilisation of fossil objects 
• Preparation and packaging for analysis and transport 
• Sample preparation and grinding of amber for microscopic examination 
• Fieldwork/excavations