The "Constellations" platform offers fascinating insights into 47 million years of Earth's history
To mark its 30th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Messel Pit is embarking on a digital future. In a joint initiative, the Hessian State Museum Darmstadt (HLMD), the DFF – German Film Institute & Film Museum, the Senckenberg Society for Natural Research, and the Messel Pit World Heritage Site gGmbH are presenting an innovative project that will make this important fossil site accessible in a completely new way.
At the heart of the project is the digital platform "Constellations ," developed by the DFF (German Film Institute). It allows visitors to interactively explore the extraordinary fossil finds from the Messel Pit. Curated digital narratives—so-called storylines—interweave scientific facts and cultural-historical contexts, creating a vibrant network of stories that extends far beyond the traditional exhibition spaces.
Collect fossils with QR code
What's special about it: The digital platform adds a hybrid dimension to the museum experience. Visitors to the Hessian State Museum Darmstadt, the Senckenberg Natural History Museum Frankfurt, or the Museum at the Messel Pit can QR codes exhibits and "collect" them digitally. This allows them to discover fascinating stories – for example, about life 47 million years ago or about spectacular finds such as the "primitive horse" or the oldest known fossils of early primates.
The digital offering will be continuously expanded until the end of 2025. New content will be published regularly, providing current scientific findings and new perspectives on the Messel Pit.
The "Constellations" platform not only celebrates the Messel Pit World Heritage Site but also prepares it for the future – as an interactive interface between science, culture, and digital education. Further information about the anniversary year can be found at www.messeljahr2025.de .
(DARMSTADT – RED/HLMD)
