Museum and location search

Alcover Museum

The Mountains of Prades, 240 million years ago

The palaeontology room where the collection of fossils from the Mont-ral-Alcover site are displayed.

The palaeontology room where the collection of fossils from the Mont-ral-Alcover site are displayed.

The collection of fish fossils of Alcover-Mont-ral is one of the most complete collections in Catalonia, and constitutes, by its diversity of species, one of the most interesting in the world to aid in the understanding of marine fauna from the Triassic period.

The exhibition begins with an audiovisual presentation that recreates the marine environment in the mountains around Prades before the formation of the current landscape, how the collection was discovered, the scientific importance of the discovery, and when the Museum was created.

The collection shows an interesting selection of marine fossils unique in the world, such as the Alcoveria brevis, a holotype, a species discovered at our site; a jellyfish fossil, with an incredible fossilization if we take into account that its body contains 90% water; the controversial Cosesaurus aviseps, an ancestor of a flying reptile from the Jurassic period, or one of the oldest insects of Catalonia.

In order to bring our great palaeontological treasure into the public light, we have designed an interesting visit for families and, for school groups, a number of comprehensive educational workshops. The Museum includes an exhibition space for children and people with visual disabilities, so that they can get the feel of the surroundings of the mountains of Prades 240 million years ago.

OBJECTS

<p><em>Alcoveria brevis</em>, a holotype used to designate a new species discovered at our site.&nbsp;Alcover Museum.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
Alcoveria brevis, holotype
Alcoveria brevis, holotype
<p>Belonging to the arthropod group, it is one of the few fossil groups with currently existing members (living fossils).&nbsp;Alcover Museum.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
Horseshoe crab
Horseshoe crab
<p>This specimen features a remarkably complete fossil record of the whole living creature (mould and cast).&nbsp;Alcover Museum.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
Colobodus giganteus
Colobodus giganteus
<p>A specimen belonging to the arthropod group, third in importance of those represented on our site, a replica of the original. MGSB (Geological Museum of the Seminary of Barcelona).&nbsp;Alcover Museum.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
Insect
Insect
<p>Specimen belonging to the Coelenterata group, the only representative of its order found in the country, a replica of the original. MGSB.&nbsp;Alcover Museum.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
Jellyfish (Eulithota sp.)
Jellyfish (Eulithota sp.)
<p>The reptiles originated during the late Carboniferous period; some became extinct and others continued to evolve until today. Replica. MGSB (Geological Museum of the Seminary of Barcelona).&nbsp;Alcover Museum.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
Reptile (Lariosaurus balsami)
Reptile (Lariosaurus balsami)
<p>Humerus of a rhino, found at the site of the crack, inside the Lucas quarry, in Alcover-Mont-ral.&nbsp;Alcover Museum.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
Humerus of a rhinoceros
Humerus of a rhinoceros
scroll to top icon