Rehousing of paleontological collections in the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain

Abstract

For many years the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (M.N.C.N.) of Madrid, Spain, in common with many similar museums, has used cardboard boxes without lids to store paleontological specimens in closed wooden cabinets. During the late 1960s the museum purchased boxes of brown recycled plastic without lids. These were used initially for the storage of the rock collection and subsequently in the paleontological collection. In 1985 the paleontological collections were reorganized and for the first time brought together into one area with compact storage. The new storage units have open shelves without doors. Specimens are now being stored in clear polystyrene boxes with lids, or polyethylene bags.