THE MEGALOCEROS RESTORATION PROJECT
A SECOND LIFE FOR THE GREAT IRISH ELK
(Megaloceros giganteus)
From the Earth & Environmental Sciences department
(PALEONTOLOGY COLLECTION)
of the KU-Leuven University
The 'Geo-Institute', or building 200E of the Arenberg campus site III in Heverlee (Leuven), houses an authentic fossil skeleton of a Megaloceras giganteus better known as the Irish elk or Giant deer. The department of Earth-and Environmental Sciences has been the proud owner of this awe-inspiring skeleton for more than a century. Alongside other iconic Ice Age mammals such as the woolly mammoth, or the woolly rhinoceros, the Irish Elk is one of the classic representatives of the Ice Age fauna in our regions.
Within the celebratory context of the 600 year anniversary of KU Leuven, it is our aim to give the Megaloceros a new life. The skeleton was aqcuired around 1907-1908 and served many years as the center piece of the paleontological collection erected by professor Henry de Dorlodot (1855-1929). The skeleton somehow managed to survive both world wars, the split of the university (1968) and two major departmental relocations. During all this time, the skeleton gathered dust, broken ribs and legs, fissures, cracks and scratches. In more recent years it even served as an occasional coat hanger during departmental parties and some ribs went missing over time. Anno 2025, the time has come to give the skeleton a much needed makeover.
The Megaloceros project will provide a new metallic frame for each of the +200 bones that are making up the skeleton. A thorough inventarisation of all the osteological parts will take place as well as an in-depth treatment of each bone with the latest chemical conservation products. We see this project as a unique opportunity to also include biology and geology students within the restoration and conservation process, where they can actively participate in the different steps of the conservation and restoration procedures introducing them to the practical side of vertebrate palaeontology, currently not covered during their studies.
This project in collaboration with the 'Academic and Historical Heritage Service' and the paleontology lab of the Earth and Environmental sciences dept. will be a great contribution to the protection of university's rich paleontological heritage. In the following blog you can read up on the different stages of the project and follow the advancements
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MAY 2024
A project proposition for the restoration of the Irish elk skeleton was written and communicated to the KU-Leuven central services. Within this project we propose a complete makeover and treatment of the skeleton that has been a permanent asset for the paleontological collections of the earth and environmental sciences deptartment for more than 116 years (1908-2024). The proposal was was set up in collaboration with the KU Leuven FabLab and the paleontological research group of the department. Within the context of the upcoming 600 year anniversary of the university of Leuven, this skeleton would make an excellent highlight within the temporary exhibit in museum M. We are looking forward to the feedback on our proposition and hope for a contructive collaboration.
SUMMER 2024
While waiting for feedback on the project proposal, we took the summer holiday to dive into the previously unknown history of the Megaloceros skeleton from the paleontological collections. The skeleton turned out to be bought by none other than professor Henry de Dorlodot, founder of the paleontological chair of the university of Leuven back in 1894.
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​The company Krantz (Rheinischen Mineralien-Contor von F. Krantz) from Bonn in Germany proposed the sale of this skeleton dug up from the Irish bogs for 2000 Deutsche Marks (DEM). We found the original picture of the mounted skeleton as promo material from the company
This info is based on (archival) research conducted by Ann Van Baelen - KU Leuven Department of Scientific Collections and Heritage in collaboration with Prof. Robert Speijer, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences - in the framework of the FWO project DiSSCo-Flanders
OCTOBER 2024
Good news! the project has been approved by the university. During this period we focus on the administrative side of the project, making sure that collaborations and commitments are written down on paper and signed by all the involved parties. In the meantime we take plenty of photographs and document the skeleton as much as possible, to prepare for any unforeseen or hidden surprises
We focus on the nowadays rather unconventional methods used to fuse together the different parts of the skeleton. putting screws directly through the bones did not seem a big issue back in the day.
JANUARY 2025 (WEEK 1)
Dealing with an entire skeleton means dealing with a lot of bones. Therefore we made a vector drawing of the skeleton asif it was run over by a truck. In this vector drawing we can name every individual bone and attribute a unique code to each part. This code will be used throughout the entire project as prime reference for all manipulations and treatments that will be performed. Dealing with a lot of specimens means that an organised approach and strict procedure should be followed as to how the skeleton should be disassembled. We also took the opportunity to map any fake (reconstructed) bones, missing parts, and parts that need to be replicated in the future to complete the skeleton. This plan will form the backbone of our project and will help us to keep an overview of all the manipulations that will follow.
JANUARY 2025 (WEEK 2)
Off with its head! The actual (physical) dismounting of the skeleton starts with the heaviest part, being the skull (cranium) and its fused antlers. This allows to pull away the heaviest part of the skeleton before further dismounting can take place. We wrapped the skull and antlers with protective foil and carefully took it from its frame.
JANUARY 2025 (WEEK 2)
Moving a large head 2 floors above ground level is not an easy task. Using elevators was not an option and some of the staircases did not provide enough room to manouver a ca. 3m long skull with antlers. We agreed on an alternative route which took us around the buildings to safely store the giant head at the workshop. Five people were required to perform this challenging task.
JANUARY 2025 (WEEK 3)
As the relocation of the head and antlers proved to be a great success, the rest of the dismounting operation could be performed with the nescesarry ease and joy. We are happy to be able to work during weekends, especially in this season of examinations, where the room where the skeleton is standing, is frequently used by students who are preparing their exams. We were happy to also invite some young paleo-enthusiasts to join the dismounting acivities. The next generation of Belgian paleontologists are represented
JANUARY 2025 (WEEK 4)
With the complete dismounting of the skeleton completed, we are now preparing the next phase. Escpecially the scanning and printing phase as well as the construction of the transport cases. This will require the nescesarry preparation time. For now the specimens are safely stored in the workshop and we take the time to prepare our database, reports and the setup of a preparation lab in the coming weeks.
February 2025 (WEEK 5)
During the month of February we focus on the preparation of many simultaneous things behind the scenes. For one thing we try to scan some of the missing ribs so we can mirror them and have the 3D printed to fill up the missing ones. Helping us out with this job is the KU Leuven FabLab. Unfortunately, a lot of scans show a lot of artifacts (lines of interference in the image that soil your scan as shown in the scan image below). This is typically caused by metal particles. After a thorough CT scan (see picture on the right) we understand why, 15 cm metal rods have been drilled through the fossil ribs. A very odd discovery of a practice that is now abandoned by museums all around the world, but a historic relic of its time in a way. This info will be very valuable for the conservation stage of the project
February 2025 (WEEK 6)
The conservation of a skeleton more or less has the same steps within a standard chemical conservation procedure. Nevertheless depending on the history of a skeleton, the use of certain products in the past and the specific features that are linked to certain parts (bones) the procedure can change or require extra steps to fully bring out the full potential. During the past few weeks we have been working on the fine-tuning of our chemical treatments procedure, taken into account waste management, safety, and the final results. In standard lab conditions we have been testing different chemicals and their reaction upon parts of the skeleton. This will help us to define the best product that can protect the skeleton in the long run. Once all the data are collected, pro's and con's have been defined, we make our final choice. This is a long process but it will allow us only to work with the most adequate products.
February 2025 (WEEK 7)
This week we drove all the way to Rotterdam (The Netherlands) to visit Dick Mol's mammoth lab collection in Hellevoetsluis. Dick has been a great mentor and help for previous projects and is always more than helpful to give us the best possible advice and expertise. In the early afternoon we went to visit the ManimalWorks workshop of paleo-artist Remie Bakker and his team who introduced us to the ins and outs of mounting and restoring a Megaloceros skeleton. A lot of questions were asked and tips and tricks were shared very openly and in the best of spirit. This will help us to conceive a new framework that is well thought of and structurally sound
March 2025 (WEEK 8)
A new month comes with a new phase of the project. This week we officially started the conservation and restoration phase of the project. For this stage, we set up a temporary treatment laboratory within the workshop of the Geo-Institute. A temporary conservation and preparation lab will be the home of +30 volunteers comprising of students, experienced conservators and volunteers who will be spending their time in learning and completing the different steps that are required for restoration and conservation of the skeleton. This unique experience will help these future paleontologists and researchers to gain some soft and hard skills in methods and techniques applied to modern day paleontological conservation and restoration projects.
March 2025 (WEEK 8 - PART II)
Our volunteers did an awesome job in the past few days. erasing all the man-made foreign materials such as metal wool, glues, resins etc. from the many bones that make up the Megaloceros skeleton. The sample flow is organised in different station each focussing on a different step within the conservation or restoration proces. With enough intermediate checks we can easily follow the progres of the treatments, while keeping track of all the manipulations that have been done. We are glad that many biology and geology student are interested to join us in our project. A shoutout to everyone who has helped us and will help us during the following weeks.
March 2025 (WEEK 9)
Looking back on a busy week in the lab we can proudly say that we made great progress. At the end of week 8 the front legs, vertebral colum and all ribs were treated accoriding to the 7 steps as defined within our procedure. We are very pleased of the work that the students and volunteers have put into the treatment and the follow-up of the conservational procedure. On saturday (15/03/2025) the open lab and press day took place, placing our activities into the national and regional spotlight. Interviews were given, pictures and recordings were made and visitors were guided around. on Sunday we prepared the lab for a new week of conservation and restoration activities.
March 2025 (WEEK 10)
This week we look back upon the successful treatment of the post-cranial elements of the Megaloceros skeleton. Nearly all elements underwent our conservation and restoration procedure and have been subjected to multiple checks along the process, covering multiple days. Only the pelvis and the skull with antlers would still require some specialised treatment which they will obtain during the following weeks. On sunday 23rd of March we disassambled our temporary laboratory and cleaned the premises. Slowly we will move into the next phase: the construction of the framework and transport cases. We thank our 35 volunteers who helped us out with this exciting phase. Without their help this would not have been possible
![20250323_150714[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6a5e3e_9b84be1026fe47feb2e64c73e549216e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_238,h_317,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20250323_150714%5B1%5D.jpg)
![20250323_131927[1].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/6a5e3e_bb53f2075f6c4d3cba4ba415413a0e35~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_366,h_488,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/20250323_131927%5B1%5D.jpg)
April 2025 (WEEK 11)
The next phase of the project will consist of two important steps that will take place simultaniously. On one side the welding and construction of the new metal frame and on the other side the assambley of custom made filghtcases for the bones. This last one is overseen by our paleobotany lab member Tom Malfait, who is responsible for the collaboration with the KU Leuven carpentry department. This week a monumental flightcase is being made to transport the most precious part of the skeleton: the skull and antlers. A wooden frame will serve as main casing, and custom made isolation will be added in a later stage. By the end of this month, the metal groundplate should also be completed in order to weld the metal structures that will hold all the bones.
