A Second Life for the Giant Deer
Within the framework of the festivities celebrating 600 years of KU Leuven, the exhibition "Kennis in Zicht” (Knowledge in sight) is planned in Museum M this autumn (from 10 October 2025 to 22 February 2026). This expo will highlight the scientific collections of the Leuven University. One of the eye-catchers is the impressive fossil skeleton of an extinct giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus) that has been part of the palaeontological collection of KU Leuven's Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences for almost 120 years. On Saturday 15 March, during an open lab day and press day, you can meet the conservators currently working on the skeleton.
The Megaloceros, or Irish Giant Deer, is an imposing animal with antlers measuring nearly 3 meters wide. The skeleton is currently being treated by the non-profit organisation. Palaeontologica Belgica on behalf of KU Leuven's Scientific Collections and Heritage Department. Besides making a new frame, the research organization Palaeontologica Belgica will be responsible for the conservation process of the bones and 3D printing missing fragments. Research into the animal's conservation history will also be carried out. "After all, such an ancient skeleton can provides a lot of insights into the methods and practices used for the conservation and assembly of such fossil skeletons at the beginning of the last century," said Anthonie Hellemond project leader for Palaeontologica Belgica.
With the deconstruction of the framework being finished, the stage of restoration and conservation now begins. A temporary laboratory has been set up for this purpose within the workshops of the Geo-Institute on the Arenberg III campus in Heverlee. In this location, a team of experts and volunteers will clean, strengthen and catalogue each bone via different treatments. This is quite a challenge as these bones may contain a lot of foreign materials, such as metal, plaster, lead, shellac but sometimes also asbestos. If present, the team will take a careful and structured approach to removing them. In collaboration with FabLab Leuven and the company Ornament, the skeleton will be set up in a much more natural pose. The missing parts will be carefully supplemented with digital copies of existing bones. "Due to the enormous antlers of almost meters wide and about 40 kilos, it is an extra big challenge to transport the skeleton in a safe way. Therefore, special custom-made crates will be made to transport it to Museum M in early September," says KU Leuven geology professor Robert Speijer.
This project also represents a unique opportunity for students who are taking up the palaeontology course at the university, to learn more about the restoration and conservation process of fossil skeletons. The team is therefore offering interested students the chance to gain hands-on experience by participating in the restoration and treatment of the skeleton in the laboratory. "This experience will be a great addition to the current curriculum of the students involved," said Professor Johan Vellekoop, assistant professor of palaeontology.
An open-lab day will be organized on Saturday 15 March from 11h00 to 16h00 for press and interested people to meet the curators and the giant deer as an icon of the last ice age. Challenges and information we have been able to gather about this skeleton so far will be discussed. Students and other volunteers who are interested in helping out, can always contact Palaeontologica Belgica at the address: palaeontologica.belgica@gmail.com
Practical info
Location: Geo-Institute - Celestijnenlaan 200 E Local 00.214 B-3001 Heverlee (Leuven)
Additional info: A weekly overview of activities so far can be found on the website: https://www.palaeontologica-belgica.org/megaloceros-restoration-project
Website 600 years KU-Leuven: https://www.kuleuven.be/600jaar/
Website Exhibition 'Kennis in Zicht': https://www.mleuven.be/programma/kennis-in-zicht
Press contact: Anthonie Hellemond: 0495477550 or palaeontologica.belgica@gmail.com
Contact department: Johan Vellekoop: johan.vellekoop@kuleuven.be
KU Leuven press office: 0492 15 18 18 or persdienst@kuleuven.be
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