Bernard Price Institute
Located at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, the Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research (BPI) is home to one of the largest fossil collections in South Africa. The research institute exists to collect, conserve, study and report on fossil discoveries made in South Africa; it publishes its findings, and presents fossil displays and public lectures.
The Karoo Vertebrate Collection is one of the BPI’s major collections. The Karoo – a semi-desert region in South Africa – is well known for pre-dinosaur discoveries. A rich diversity of rock zones means the area is rich in fossils from more than two million years ago. The BPI collection alone consists of more than 6 000 catalogued specimens.
Ever wondered what the landscapes of Southern Africa looked like millions of years ago? A visit to the BPI’s herbarium, which features a collection of more than 30 000 fossil plants and insects, is sure to shed some light on the matter.
One of the BPI’s newest collections consist of more than 700 specimens of fossilised wood. Research is still under way to identify and describe the fossilised material, and the BPI hopes, through this, to establish a database of Karoo woods.
The BPI was established in 1945 when Wits University palaeontologist Dr Robert Broom gave a public lecture in which he discussed how large numbers of South African fossils were lost due to poor facilities. Dr Bernard Price, a leading businessman and philanthropist in the audience, was so inspired by Broom’s presentation that he pledged a substantial amount to establish a foundation at the university for the purpose of preserving South Africa’s rich fossil heritage.
The first official staff member of the BPI was world-renowned fossil hunter Professor James Kitching, who was tasked with collecting fossils in the Karoo. Kitching went on to become director of the BPI.
A highlight for families visiting the BPI is a trip to the James Kitching Gallery, a small museum dedicated to palaeontology. At the museum, visitors can meet “Fang” and “Fred”, two animated, life-size reconstructions of fossil finds. The museum also includes a live fossil preparation laboratory, where visitors can watch technicians work on fossils.
Admission
James Kitching Gallery
R25 per person
Hour-and-a-half guided tour: R200 (book in advance)
Visiting hours
James Kitching Gallery
Monday to Friday from 09h00 to 16h00