Natural History Museum
Palestine’s Geological Story — Written in Stone
The fossils preserved here are not artifacts — they are pages from the deepest chapter of Palestine’s natural story.
When Palestine Was an Ancient Sea
Long before the mountains of the West Bank took their current form, the land that is now Palestine was submerged beneath the ancient Tethys Sea. The fossils housed in EECU’s Natural History Museum are direct evidence of this prehistoric world — marine fish, spiral shells, and ancient organisms preserved in limestone for hundreds of millions of years.
Located within the Environmental Education & Conservation Unit (EECU) at An-Najah National University, this collection documents Palestine’s geological history from the Cretaceous Period (145–66 million years ago) to the Eocene Epoch (34–56 million years ago) — telling a story that stretches far beyond human memory.
Every specimen in this collection was discovered in Palestinian soil — from the quarries of Salfit to the slopes of Mount Ebal in Nablus — making this museum a living record of Palestine’s deep natural heritage.
These fossils are not just scientific specimens — they are proof that Palestine’s story began hundreds of millions of years before recorded history.”
A rare fish fossil discovered in the Sarta quarries
Palestine's Natural History — In Numbers
Documented Fossil Specimens
Years of Natural History
Geological Epochs Represented
Palestinian Discovery Sites
Why This Museum Matters
The Environmental Education & Conservation Unit believes that Palestine’s story did not begin with human history — it began hundreds of millions of years ago
The Natural History Museum is not a separate entity from EECU’s living educational mission — it is its geological foundation. When students walk the Heritage Trails and encounter limestone cliffs, when they study Flora Diversity across Palestine’s mountains, or when they observe birds migrating through the Syrian-African Rift Valley — they are walking through the same ancient landscape documented in these fossils.
By preserving and displaying these specimens, EECU ensures that Palestine’s natural identity — its geological depth, its prehistoric seas, its millions of years of living history — is known, taught, and protected for future generations.
Why Visit the Natural History Museum
More than a display — a journey through 145 million years of Palestine’s natural history
Palestine's Oldest Stories
Every fossil in this collection was discovered in Palestinian soil — from Salfit to Nablus — making each specimen a direct connection to the land’s deepest geological past.
Million Years of Evidence
The collection spans from the Cretaceous Period to the Eocene Epoch — documenting the transformation of Palestine from an ancient seafloor to the landscapes we know today.
Rare & Documented Specimens
Including a rare fish fossil from the Sarta quarries of Salfit, locally documented on April 15, 1981 — one of the most significant paleontological finds in the region.
Arabic, English & Scientific Documentation
Every specimen is documented in Arabic, English, and scientific terminology — making the collection accessible for education, research, and community engagement.
Community-Contributed Heritage
Several specimens were donated by community members and students — including a stalactite formation donated to An-Najah’s Geography Department in 1982 — reflecting EECU’s community-rooted mission.
Connected to EECU's Living Classroom
The museum complements EECU’s Flora Diversity, Bird Exhibition, and Heritage Trails — connecting geological history with the living ecosystems students explore in the field today.
Outcomes
What Visitors Discover
Experiential Learning
Holding a 95-million-year-old fossil transforms abstract geological timescales into tangible, unforgettable experiences
Sustainability
Understanding geological history deepens awareness of how fragile and irreplaceable Palestine’s natural heritage truly is.
Heritage Connection
Every specimen connects visitors to Palestine’s land — not just its modern history, but its prehistoric identity as part of an ancient marine world.
Interdisciplinary Study
The collection bridges geology, biology, archaeology, and environmental science — reflecting EECU’s cross-disciplinary approach to education.
A Documented Collection of Palestine's Geological
Each specimen is a window into a world that existed millions of years before human memory.
|
Thousands of years |
Donated 1982 |
Stalactites & Stalagmites
Stalactites and stalagmites are natural mineral formations (most commonly composed of calcium carbonate) that develop in limestone caves over thousands of years due to the dripping of mineral-rich water. Stalactites grow downward from the ceiling of the cave, while stalagmites grow upward from the cave floor, and they may eventually meet to form columns.
(Donated to the Department of Geography at An-Najah National University by the student Fares Anis Saleh, 23/08/1982).
النوازل والصواعد تشكيلات معدنية طبيعية (كربونات الكالسيوم غالبًا) تتكون في الكهوف الجيرية عبر آلاف السنين بفعل تقاطر المياه المحملة بالمعادن. نمو النوازل من سقف الكهف إلى الأسفل، بينما تنمو الصواعد من أرضية الكهف إلى الأعلى، وقد تلتقيان لتشكيل أعمدة. (تبرع لصالح قسم الجغرافيا في جامعة النجاح الوطنية من الطالب فارس أنيس صالح 23/ 08/ 1982).
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Cretaceous (145-66M) |
Sarta, Salfit |
Fossilized Marine Fish (Large)
A rare fish fossil discovered in the Sarta quarries of the Salfit Governorate, Central West Bank, Palestine. It dates back to the Cenomanian age (approx. 95 million years ago) and was locally documented on April 15, 1981.
أحفورة سمكة نادرة اكتُشفت في محاجر سرطة التابعة لمحافظة سلفيت وسط الضفة الغربية في فلسطين، وتعود للعصر السينوماني قبل نحو 95 مليون سنة، وهي موثقة محلياً بتاريخ 15 نيسان عام 1981.
| Cretaceous (145-66M) | Azmout |
Gastropod Fossil
Gastropod fossils from the Sheikh Bilal Reserve in Azmout, east of Nablus, dating back to the Cretaceous Period (145-66 million years ago) documenting the ancient natural history of Palestine.
أحافير قواقع حلزونية (بطنيات قدم) اكتُشفت في محمية جبل الشيخ بلال ببلدة عزموط، شرق نابلس، تعود للعصر الطباشيري (145-66 مليون سنة)، وتجسد التنوع الحيوي البحري القديم في فلسطين.
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Cretaceous (145-66M) |
Palestine |
Sedimentary Limestone with Fossil
A sedimentary limestone slab showing faint fossilized impressions, possibly marine in origin, likely dating to the Cretaceous period (approximately 145–66 million years ago), when the region was part of an ancient marine environment.
هذه قطعة صخرية رسوبية (غالبًا من الحجر الجيري) يظهر على سطحها نمط حلقي/قوسي داكن يشبه بقايا أو طبعات كائن بحري متحجر، وربما يكون جزءًا من أثر أحفوري (trace fossil) أو بقايا قشرة/كائن بحري اندمج داخل الصخر أثناء الترسيب.
من حيث الشكل والبيئة الصخرية، فهي تتوافق مع صخور بحرية قديمة تعود غالبًا إلى العصر الطباشيري (حوالي 145–66 مليون سنة)، وهي فترة كانت فيها أجزاء واسعة من منطقة فلسطين مغطاة ببحر قديم (بحر التيثس(
| Cretaceous (145-66M) |
Central Palestine Highlands |
Fossilized Marine Fish (Small)
A fossilized marine fish from the Cretaceous period (approximately 145–66 million years ago) was found in the rocks of the central highlands of Palestine, indicating that this region was once covered by an ancient sea millions of years ago.
سمكة بحرية متحجرة من العصر الطباشيري (منذ حوالي 145 إلى 66 مليون سنة) عُثر عليها في صخور مرتفعات وسط فلسطين، مما يدل على أن هذه المنطقة كانت مغطاة ببحر قديم قبل ملايين السنين.
| Eocene (34-56M) | Mount Ebal / Nablus |
Nummulites marine fossils
Nummulites marine fossils discovered on Mount Ebal in Nablus, dating back to the Eocene epoch (approx. 34–56 million years ago), documenting the region’s ancient underwater history.
أحافير نوموليت بحرية اكتُشفت على جبل عيبال في نابلس، تعود لعصر الإيوسين (منذ حوالي 34 إلى 56 مليون سنة)، وتُوثق تاريخ غمر المنطقة بالبحار القديمة.
| (34–56 million years ago) | Tell Sufan, Nablus |
Nummulitic Limestone
A block of Nummulitic Limestone dating back to the Eocene Epoch (34–56 million years ago), discovered at Tell Sufan, west of Nablus, during archaeological excavations led by Dr. Loay Abu
كتلة من الحجر الجيري النموليتي تعود لعصر الإيوسين (قبل 34-56 مليون سنة)، اكتُشفت في تل صوفان غرب نابلس خلال تنقيبات أثرية بإشراف د. لؤي أبو السعود عام 2017.
| 145-66 million years | Cretaceous Period |
Ammonite fossil
An Ammonite fossil from the Cretaceous Period (145-66 million years ag), featuring a distinctive spiral shell. This specimen serves as a prehistoric record of marine life in Palestine millions of years ago.
أحفورة أمونيت من العصر الطباشيري (قبل 145-66 مليون سنة)، تتميز بقوقعتها الحلزونية الفريدة. تُعد هذه العينة سجلاً تاريخياً للحياة البحرية في فلسطين قبل ملايين السنين.
From Specimens to Scientific Research
The Natural History Museum serves as an educational and scientific resource supporting biodiversity research, species documentation, and environmental learning.
Through preserved specimens, ecological collections, and field-based observations, the museum helps students and researchers explore taxonomy, wildlife diversity, ecosystem relationships, and conservation science.
🦋 Wildlife Documentation
Preserved specimens supporting species identification, ecological studies, and biodiversity records.
🧬 Biodiversity Research
Research activities connected to ecosystem monitoring, environmental education, and conservation science.
🏛 Educational Collections
Scientific collections used for hands-on learning, academic training, and public environmental awareness.
Come See It for Yourself
The best way to understand Palestine’s natural history is to hold it in your hands. Visit EECU’s Natural History Museum and discover the ancient world preserved in Palestine’s rocks and fossils.
Who Can Join? — Schools, universities, families, researchers, and geology enthusiasts
Where? — Environmental Education & Conservation Unit (EECU), Sahl Sumit, Nablus
Best Time? — Open year-round for guided educational visits
Palestine's mountains do not just hold history — they hold time itself, written in stone, waiting to be read.
Palestine’s fossils are not relics of a forgotten world — they are proof of an unbroken connection between this land and the living organisms that have called it home for hundreds of millions of years. At EECU, we preserve this record so that every student, researcher, and visitor can read Palestine’s oldest story.