Preparation and mounting of a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) at the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway
In this report, we detail the process undertaken for preparing and mounting a sperm whale skeleton (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) specimen for exhibition at the Natural History Museum of Oslo, University of Oslo, which was displayed in 2022. We provide a detailed account of materials applied and techniques used in the specimen for skeletonisation, including defleshing, carcass composting and maceration. We highlight a successful and cost-effective application of horse manure as a bulking agent in carcass composting and readily available detergents in maceration. Furthermore, we describe the skeleton mounting process, addressing architectural limitations restricting the possible loads on the ceiling. Consequently, the adjusted mounting procedure had to be undertaken, which included the construction of a custom-made podium and a steel support structure. Lastly, we present the result of the skeleton mount, which is supplemented with a 3D photogrammetric model.
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