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Submit an article to Indago - a peer reviewed journal
Submit an article to Indago - a peer reviewed journal
Submit an article to Indago - a peer reviewed journal
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Tapinocaninus returns home

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Date: 9 April 2019, Bloemfontein

The National Museum, Bloemfontein today unveiled the complete skull and skeleton of Tapinocaninus, which was a 3-metre long dinocephalian, an ancient ancestor of mammals.

The specimen is the most complete dinocephalian yet discovered and has been beautifully prepared by the University of the Witwatersrand. The fossil was loaned to the University as several blocks of rocks 29 years ago. It has now been returned to the National Museum as a fully prepared specimen, which will soon be placed on exhibit. A month ago, Bruce Rubidge, Romalo Govender and Marco Romano published the full skeletal description of Tapinocaninus in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.

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Mammalogy

Two hedgehogs rescued from the pet trade

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Dr Nico Avenant, mammologist at the National Museum, Bloemfontein, was recently approached to identify two hedgehogs which were allegedly purchased from a pet shop.

The new owners became concerned when they learnt that it is illegal to have hedgehogs in captivity without a permit and took them to the offices of the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA) in Bloemfontein.

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Collections Management - Humanities

The Willow Pattern

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By Ina Marais

“Two birds flying high
A Chinese vessel, sailing by
A bridge with three men, sometimes four,
A willow tree, hanging o’er.
A Chinese temple, there it stands.
Built upon the river sands.
An apple tree, with apples on,
A crooked fence to end my song”

The willow pattern, or commonly named blue willow, is a distinctive and elaborate transfer pattern used on pottery, ceramic and porcelain ware.  This instantly recognisable pattern resembles a classic Chinese landscape design in which the following should be present:

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Fine Arts

10 Years of Collecting: Additions to the Permanent Collection 2009-2018

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An exhibition of purchased and donated artworks added to Oliewenhuis Art Museum’s Permanent Collection during the last 10 years are on display from 14 December 2018 to 3 February 2019. Oliewenhuis Art Museum, a satellite of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, is committed to building a representative collection of South African visual art and has shown a steady and interesting growth in its collection as South Africa has produced a number of celebrated artists whose works have become highly regarded both locally and abroad. 10 Years of Collecting: Additions to the Permanent Collection 2009-2018 is an eclectic mix of media, technical approaches and represent different art movements.

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