After rejecting plans to create a landfill at the Messel Pit in 1990 and purchasing the former mine in June 1991, the state of Hesse decided to engage Senckenberg, with its special expertise at Messel, as the operator of the former mine.
One year later, on June 24, 1992, the Hessen state government and Senckenberg signed a contract concerning the preservation of the Messel Pit as a unique fossil site. Starting on July 1, 1992, Senckenberg became the operator of the Messel Pit under regulations specified by federal mining law. The state and the federal government financially support the operation through the Senckenberg Research Institute.
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Starting in 1983, this house, rented from YTONG AG, served as the Senckenberg outpost at the Messel Pit. In 1992, SGN bought the house and through the years converted it into a research station. The station now comprises preparation facilities, including a wet laboratory, an X-ray laboratory, office space for the technicians and scientists, a presentation and meeting room, a caretaker’s apartment.
The research station is the workplace for the preparation and excavation staff as well as the home of the Section Paleoentomology.
