Draft:Paleoheritage
Paleontological aspect of natural and cultural heritage
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paleoheritage (a blend of paleontological and heritage) is the paleontological aspect of natural and cultural heritage. A paleoheritage site or paleopark is a particular paleontological heritage asset. It is a heritage category comparable to other forms of natural heritage, such as biodiversity.
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History of the concept
The first reference to paleoheritage as such was in the 1996 book Environmental Geomorphology, which based the scientific heritage value of sites on their rarity, critical position in an ecosystem, scenic appeal, and paleoheritage. [1]
Subsequent references are made by Vincent L. Santucci of the National Park Service.
From the paper, Framing the Palaeontological Heritage Within the Geological Heritage: An Integrative Vision[2] (2015)
- Effective geoconservation of Earth's paleontological heritage necessitates expanding the concept of geological heritage to include ex situ geological objects, such as fossil collections, as legitimate targets of conservation concern and action.[3]
- The established principles of geoconservation can be applied to paleontological heritage through systematic inventory and evaluation procedures, which are foundational to subsequent conservation, promotion, and monitoring efforts, including the curation of fossil specimens.[4]
- That said, not all fossils carry equal value; assessments differ considerably depending on whether they are made on scientific grounds or commercial ones, with the latter prioritizing aesthetic appeal and rarity over research significance.[5]
- While collectors tend to place a premium on exceptionally well-preserved specimens, paleontologists view preservation quality as just one of several factors contributing to a fossil's significance. A holotype or a specimen marking the first recorded occurrence of a taxon within a given basin typically holds far greater scientific importance than a visually striking find, regardless of the latter's aesthetic qualities.[6]
The Human Dimensions Of Paleontological Resources: Contributing To Science, Stewardship, And Conservation In National Park Service Areas A Dissertation In Recreation, Parks, And Tourism Management (2025)
Toward A Conceptual Framework For Assessing The Human Dimensions Of Paleontological Resources
Examples of paleoheritage sites
Australia
Australia's significant fossil sites include the World Heritage Sites such as Riversleigh World Heritage Area (QLD) for Oligocene-Miocene mammals and Naracoorte Caves National Park (SA) for Pleistocene megafauna. Other key sites are Nilpena Ediacara National Park (SA) for early life, Winton (QLD) for Cretaceous dinosaurs, and Canowindra (NSW) for Devonian fish.
Canada
Canada's significant fossil sites include the Burgess Shale in British Columbia's Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, known for exceptional 508-million-year-old Cambrian marine fossils.
China
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Morocco
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United States
In the United States there are sites that have natural features (such as La Brea Tar Pits[7] in California and Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado); cultural features (such as Chaco Culture National Historical Park, where petrified wood and fossils were used by ancient civilizations.); scenically important sites (such as the Badlands National Park in South Dakota and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado).
California
Colorado
Oregon
Conservation Efforts
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Site Conservation
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Collection Conservation
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Digital Conservation
There are efforts taken on by individuals, groups, and societies to preserve paleoheritage information and data including those that focus on the state level such as Georgia, Mississippi, and Minnesota. There are digital efforts taken on at the local level as well, sometimes focusing on a region or a particular site.
See Also
Further Reading
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External Links
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