5:15 PM - 7:15 PM
[MZZ45-P13] Activities of the Itoigawa Fossa Magna Museum in connection with the 150th anniversary of Dr. Naumann's arrival in Japan
Keywords:Itoigawa UNESCO Global Geopark, Fossa Magna Museum, Heinrich Edmund Naumann
The focal point of the Itoigawa Geopark's research endeavors is the Itoigawa Fossa Magna Museum, a geological museum inaugurated in 1994 and refurbished in 2015. The museum boasts a curation of exhibits, including Itoigawa jade, fossil limestone, the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line, and the genesis of the Japanese islands.
The Fossa Magna, which was discovered by Heinrich Edmund Naumann (1854-1927) (Figure 1), has been the namesake of the museum. In 2025, the 150th anniversary of Naumann's arrival in Japan will be commemorated by the Fossa Magna Museum with a special exhibition highlighting his contributions.
In 1876, Naumann was appointed professor of geology at the University of Tokyo (then Tokyo Kaisei school). When the University of Tokyo was founded in 1877, he surveyed the entire country as professor of geology, playing an instrumental role in the creation of Japan's first full-scale geological map, the "Geological Map of the Empire of Japan."
Naumann's contributions extend to the establishment of the Geological Survey of Japan, which was subsequently recognized as the Geological Survey of Japan Center of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. In 1882, he assumed the role of Director of the Geological Survey of Japan.
Subsequent to his return to Germany in 1885, he authored a paper entitled "On the Structure and Origin of the Japanese Archipelago," in which he alluded to a fault corresponding to the contemporary Itoigawa-Shizuoka tectonic line. In 1886, he coined the term "Fossa Magna" in his paper "On Our Land Survey of the Topography and Geology of Japan."
In addition to geology, Naumann's research interests encompassed Japanese archaeology and anthropology, leading to his description of the first fossil elephant (Figure 2) in Japan. This specimen, named the Naumann elephant by Jiro Makiyama (1896-1986) of Kyoto University in 1924, marked a significant contribution to the field of paleontology. Moreover, he engaged in scholarly discourse on the prehistoric culture of Japan and the origin of mankind, which included a debate with Mori Ogai (1862-1922) during a lecture on the Japanese people in Dresden, Germany, in 1886.
The Fossa Magna Museum's special exhibition in 2025, which coincides with the 150th anniversary of Naumann's arrival in Japan, aims to shed light on the history of modern geology by introducing Naumann's achievements during his 10 years in Japan and their connection to his current life and research. The exhibition methodically weaves Naumann's work and its impact on the evolution of geology and the contemporary life of geologists. The exhibition is meticulously curated to present Naumann's achievements from his birth to his death through a backgammon-style floor display, ensuring accessibility for visitors of all ages. Keywords such as the establishment of the Geological Survey of Japan, volcanic observations, and geomagnetic surveys are incorporated into the backgammon grid, with these keywords branching off into current research, thereby establishing a connection between Naumann's past research and current cutting-edge research. Additionally, a mystery solving museum was held in the permanent exhibition room.
While Naumann's contributions are frequently discussed in the context of his research on the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line and the Fossa Magna, it is crucial to recognize the significance of his contributions in other fields. This special exhibition aims to illuminate the breadth and depth of Naumann's research activities.
The Fossa Magna, which was discovered by Heinrich Edmund Naumann (1854-1927) (Figure 1), has been the namesake of the museum. In 2025, the 150th anniversary of Naumann's arrival in Japan will be commemorated by the Fossa Magna Museum with a special exhibition highlighting his contributions.
In 1876, Naumann was appointed professor of geology at the University of Tokyo (then Tokyo Kaisei school). When the University of Tokyo was founded in 1877, he surveyed the entire country as professor of geology, playing an instrumental role in the creation of Japan's first full-scale geological map, the "Geological Map of the Empire of Japan."
Naumann's contributions extend to the establishment of the Geological Survey of Japan, which was subsequently recognized as the Geological Survey of Japan Center of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. In 1882, he assumed the role of Director of the Geological Survey of Japan.
Subsequent to his return to Germany in 1885, he authored a paper entitled "On the Structure and Origin of the Japanese Archipelago," in which he alluded to a fault corresponding to the contemporary Itoigawa-Shizuoka tectonic line. In 1886, he coined the term "Fossa Magna" in his paper "On Our Land Survey of the Topography and Geology of Japan."
In addition to geology, Naumann's research interests encompassed Japanese archaeology and anthropology, leading to his description of the first fossil elephant (Figure 2) in Japan. This specimen, named the Naumann elephant by Jiro Makiyama (1896-1986) of Kyoto University in 1924, marked a significant contribution to the field of paleontology. Moreover, he engaged in scholarly discourse on the prehistoric culture of Japan and the origin of mankind, which included a debate with Mori Ogai (1862-1922) during a lecture on the Japanese people in Dresden, Germany, in 1886.
The Fossa Magna Museum's special exhibition in 2025, which coincides with the 150th anniversary of Naumann's arrival in Japan, aims to shed light on the history of modern geology by introducing Naumann's achievements during his 10 years in Japan and their connection to his current life and research. The exhibition methodically weaves Naumann's work and its impact on the evolution of geology and the contemporary life of geologists. The exhibition is meticulously curated to present Naumann's achievements from his birth to his death through a backgammon-style floor display, ensuring accessibility for visitors of all ages. Keywords such as the establishment of the Geological Survey of Japan, volcanic observations, and geomagnetic surveys are incorporated into the backgammon grid, with these keywords branching off into current research, thereby establishing a connection between Naumann's past research and current cutting-edge research. Additionally, a mystery solving museum was held in the permanent exhibition room.
While Naumann's contributions are frequently discussed in the context of his research on the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line and the Fossa Magna, it is crucial to recognize the significance of his contributions in other fields. This special exhibition aims to illuminate the breadth and depth of Naumann's research activities.