COLLECTION OF FOSSILS OF PLANT AND ANIMAL REMAINS OF PALEONTOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF IVAN FRANKO NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LVIV: MEANING, CURRENT STATE, PERSPECTIVES OF USE

Abstract

Since the formation of the Geological (1852), and later the Paleontological Museum (2004) of Lviv University, the number of its exhibits and collections – fossils of different ages and origins, has increased significantly. At the same time, with their quantitative increase and systematic biodiversity, the importance of paleontological objects has increased, which consists in the scientific and research, educational, cultural and educational aspects. In addition, they are objects that form the memorial, historical, national and natural (geological) heritage of the institution of higher education and the region from which they originate. Researchers constantly turn to them when determining fossil remains and comparing new paleontological collections with them, their additional study; when substantiating the age of deposits, building stratigraphic schemes and correlation of deposits. Collections of originals contain holotypes of species – reference specimens of international importance. The museum’s scientific foundation, of which monographic paleontological collections are undoubtedly part, deserves a national treasure. The historical and memorial significance of the collections lies in the fact that they were formed over two centuries with the participation of prominent Austrian, Polish, Russian and Ukrainian researchers: L. Zeischner, S. Pazdro, V. Zich, V. Rogal, R. Zuber, J. Charnotsky, B. Kokoshinskaya, L. Gorbach, V. Kudrin, V. Sheremeta, O. Vyalov, V. Goretsky, Ya. Kulchytsky, R. Leschukh, A. Ivanina, V. Uziuk et al. It should be noted that in addition to fossils collected from the territory of Ukraine, there are representatives originating from different parts of the world of the planet Earth, which further increases the importance of paleontological collections, since they complement not only the collections of fossils of Paleontological museums or their branches of Ukraine, but also the collections of Natural museums of the world. The collection of fossils of plant and animal remains of the Paleontological Museum of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv has no analogues in Ukraine and the world. The collection (1825 of foundation) is unique, not subject to reproduction and complements the museum funds and collections of the Paleontological Museums of Ukraine and the world.