Heritage Cases

The following formal activities have been planned. 1. The skull will be displayed during two lectures by Prof. Clarke in the U.K. the first, on the evening of 1 July, will be held at Oxford University’s Museum of Natural History. The second will at the South African High Commission (South Africa House), Trafalgar Square, London, on the evening of 3 July 2019. This event is being hosted by the South African High Commissioner, Nomatemba Tambo. A secure display case is being provided by the Collections Manager of the Museum of Natural History. 2. The skull will be transferred from secure storage at the Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire on the afternoon of each lecture, and returned to secure storage at that facility on the same evening of each lecture. Prof. Clarke will travel with the skull at all times. Transfer will be via a vehicle and driver of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), which is the U.K. government agency that oversees the Diamond Light Source facility. This is the same transport that is being used for the transfer of the skull and Prof. Clarke between Diamond Light Source and Heathrow Airport. The transfer arrangements for the two lectures were made through the STFC Executive Chair, Prof. Mark Thomson. A considerable financial and time investment has been made in this project and these activities are a good opportunity to showcase our fossil heritage abroad at the highest level and do not represent any significant additional risk to the fossil. A permit for short term exhibition in addition to the scientific work is therefore sought.