Since Europeana is currently supporting capacity building and workflow creation towards a framework for 3D cultural heritage objects, we at OpenUp! also want to make a contribution. One of our partner institutions, the Genoa University, brought the first 3D objects through OpenUp! to Europeana. Now we promote and highlight 3D objects on Europeana across different institutions by building galleries and engaging in storytelling activities.
Index
Ursus spelaeus
The first gallery was built around a 3D object depicting the right mandible of a prehistoric cave bear. The bear developed 400.000 to 500.000 years ago and became extinct after the last ice age 13.000 years ago. He was an omnivore but probably preferred plants over meat. His next relatives today are the brown bear and the ice bear.
The cave bear owes his name to the location where most of his remains were found. While he may be similar to the brown bear in basic looks, he was bigger, heavier and less adaptable to changes in nutrition and environment. That could be the reason of its extinction, though the impact of humans taking over his habitat can’t be ruled out entirely.
Ursus spelaeus by Silesian Museum licensed under CC BY-NC-SA