A Iberomesornis romerali fossil

The Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN) in Madrid asked Factum Foundation to produce a facsimile of Iberomesornis romerali, the only known fossil specimen of this bird species to date. This small bird lived 120 million years ago near Las Hoyas (Spain). It displays a combination of intermediate features — some reminiscent of dinosaurs, others similar to those of modern birds. Its morphological characteristics provide valuable insight into the evolution of avian flight.

The finished fossil facsimile © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation

Recontruction of an Iberomesornis romerali at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid

This rare specimen, part of the collection at the Museo Paleontológico de Castilla-La Mancha – MUPA, in Cuenca, will be temporarily replaced by the facsimile so that the original can be displayed in the exhibition ‘Dinosaurios entre Nosotros’ (Dinosaurs Among Us), which opened at the MNCN on 11 July 2025.

To obtain the digital data, a team from Factum travelled to Cuenca in June to record the fossil using two high-resolution scanning techniques. First, photogrammetry was used to create a digital model for the production of the facsimile. Then, the Selene PSS was used to capture the surface relief and colour, allowing for the creation of two digital viewers that reveal the fossil and its minute details in ultra-high resolution.

The scanning and facsimile-making processes serve several purposes: preservation and conservation through the data acquired; research, thanks to the viewers created using Selene PSS data; and public dissemination and exhibition.