Matera Museum Opens Exhibition on Prehistoric Whale Fossil

The Museo Archeologico nazionale di Matera “Domenico Ridola” has inaugurated a new exhibition titled “Giuliana degli Abissi,” dedicated to the discovery and history of the fossil of the cetacean known as Giuliana, found in 2006. The exhibition spans four rooms, detailing the phases of recovery, conservation, and the aquatic flora and fauna remains surrounding the whale, which lived 1.25 million years ago and is the largest aquatic mammal ever to have crossed the Mediterranean Sea. The installation includes video works by visual artist Silvio Giordano, mixing 2D and 3D animation, live video, and motion graphics with narration by Christian Iansante. A comic by illustrator Giulio Giordano, “La Regina degli abissi,” frames the journey, featuring the demigoddess Talassa tasked with solving a mystery near the San Giuliano dam. Annamaria Mauro, Director of the museum and co-curator with Laura D’Esposito, described the multidisciplinary project as a virtuous example combining protection, conservation, restoration, and enhancement. Massimo Osanna, Director General of Museums, called the exhibition a great milestone not only for the Domenico Ridola museum and the National Museum of Matera but for the entire national museum system.