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Adventures in Natural History Museums and Taxidermy
Not all Bones are Dinosaurs Last week I was in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, where I’m carrying out my PhD research. As I stood next to these skeletons, a small boy looked at me and asked, “What sort of dinosaurs are they?” “They’re elephants,” I replied. “Elephant dinosaurs,” he said. “No,” I said, “they’re elephant skeletons. You know we all have bones in our bodies?” He nodded, suspiciously. “Well,” I said, “these are the bones from inside an elephant.” The kid narrowed his eyes, looked at the skeletons, looked at me and then walked away. Clearly, I was deeply misguided. He was in a museum. Museums are for dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are giant skeletons. Heck, there’s a giant T. rex stood right in the middle of the museum. Stupid lady. I hope I didn’t ruin his day. It’s a tough moment in a boy’s life when he comes to realise that not all skeletons are dinosaurs.

Not all Bones are Dinosaurs

Last week I was in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, where I’m carrying out my PhD research. As I stood next to these skeletons, a small boy looked at me and asked, “What sort of dinosaurs are they?” “They’re elephants,” I replied. “Elephant dinosaurs,” he said. “No,” I said, “they’re elephant skeletons. You know we all have bones in our bodies?” He nodded, suspiciously. “Well,” I said, “these are the bones from inside an elephant.”

The kid narrowed his eyes, looked at the skeletons, looked at me and then walked away. Clearly, I was deeply misguided. He was in a museum. Museums are for dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are giant skeletons. Heck, there’s a giant T. rex stood right in the middle of the museum. Stupid lady.

I hope I didn’t ruin his day. It’s a tough moment in a boy’s life when he comes to realise that not all skeletons are dinosaurs.

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