Scavi nel patrimonio museale: spunti di ricerca dal riordino di una collezione museale

The Museum of Natural History of Accademia dei Fisiocritici hosts rich collections of natural objects, that have been used for scientific research. To enhance these activities the Museum is producing inventories to be published as printed or digital catalogues. Revision and cataloguing activities of the historical malacological collection have provided interesting insights: in particular, we found that some specimens belonged or could be attributed to eminent scientists of the past. Noteworthy are Silverio Bonelli’s collection of continental molluscs (some of which could be syntypes) and Giovanni Capellini’s collection of freshwater molluscs of north America, which includes threatened species. Further, many seashells show inscriptions or man-made holes: such signs indicate they probably belong to the most ancient core of the collection (XVIII century) and give some clues on the way these items were displayed in the past. Thus, the revision of this material highlighted the presence of specimens of great taxonomic, faunistic and conservation value and allowed to retrace some historical events linked to the collection.