Back from the Ashes. The Forgotten ‘Fossils of the Pampas’ Collection from the Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano

The Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano is Italy’s largest and one of its oldest natural history museums. It houses several important historical collections covering biology, geology and palaeontology. Among these, the “Fossils of the Pampas” collection was particularly notable. This palaeontological assemblage of South American Quaternary megafauna was regarded as the most extensive collection of South American mammals in Europe from the late 19th to the early 20th century. Beyond its scientific value, it attracted significant public interest before the unfortunate destruction in 1943 by Allied aircraft bombing during World War II. Thanks to new information and technological advancements, the salvaged remains of the “Fossils of the Pampas,” comprising 520 mostly charred fragments, have undergone a thorough reevaluation. This detailed examination of the collection has resulted in the identification of at least nine distinct taxa. Among these 520 specimens, 23 were found to be particularly well-preserved and of considerable diagnostic value, enabling high-resolution 3D scanning. We also compiled a new inventory and reconstructed the collection’s history using existing museum documentation. This historical research traced the origin of the collection back to 1871, when Emilio Cornalia, then director of the Museum, purchased the assemblage from Antonio Pozzi, a former technician at the Museo Público de Buenos Aires (now Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia"), Argentina. The ultimate goal is to develop a digital database and highlight the “Fossils of the Pampas” collection, emphasising the importance of utilising modern technologies to enhance the preservation and display of the palaeontological heritage within museums.