Tainan Zuojhen Fossil Park Introduction
The Cai Liao River Basin boasts a unique fossil treasure trove, drawing attention since 1931. Ichiro Hayasaka, a geology professor at Taipei Imperial University, collected numerous deer antler fossils in the Cai Liao River Basin during geological surveys in Tainan, enlisting the local Mr. Chen Chun-mu (later known as Fossil Grandpa) to assist in collecting many precious fossils of ancient elephants, rhinoceroses, water buffaloes, and more. This laid the foundation for Cai Liao Creek as a hub for studying Taiwan's paleontology, leading to the establishment of the Cai Liao Fossil Museum, which has since been renovated and expanded into the Tainan Zuojhen Fossil Park that visitors see today. Countless fossils have been unearthed from Cai Liao Creek, including the discovery of a human skull fragment and later rhinoceros teeth. This led to a collaborative effort between Taiwanese and Japanese scholars and the Taiwan Provincial Museum team, which excavated a highly complete rhinoceros fossil, believed to have lived around 900,000 to 450,000 years ago, named Hayasaka’s Chinese Rhinoceros. The Zuojhen Fossil Park has accumulated fossils of mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, ancient deer, crocodiles, and marine and terrestrial fossils, with a particular emphasis on terrestrial vertebrate fossils. Alongside fragments of human skulls and the restored skeleton of Hayasaka’s Chinese Rhinoceros, it is undeniably a unique fossil treasure in Taiwan. Today, the Zuojhen Fossil Park has transformed from a single exhibition hall to five major exhibition halls. The Natural History Education Hall simulates the stratified rock walls of Zuojhen, where visitors can experience various interactive installations such as fossil digging and riverbed fossil observation. The Story Hall introduces the Xilaayah people and showcases cultural artifacts, including the Xinguang Documents, while recognizing Fossil Grandpa Chen Chun-mu's contributions to fossil collection throughout his life. The Evolution of Life Hall depicts the race for dominance among marine life and features dinosaurs that once ruled the Earth, followed by the rise of mammals, highlighting the flourishing and decline of life evolution. The Fossil Hall includes an interactive augmented reality sand table to understand the sources of fossils from the Cai Liao River Basin, with the most eye-catching exhibit being the complete skeleton of Hayasaka’s Chinese Rhinoceros. The Exploration Hall reveals the mysteries of the Zuojhen people, and the Fossil Restoration Room allows a close look at the restoration process. In the colorful magic interactive classroom, visitors can interact with and feed the Cai Liao River Basin's biota that they have colored. Source: Tainan Zuojhen Fossil Park website
