Jurica Sabol, Krapina Neanderthal Museum
Museums of the Croatian Zagorje, Croatia
Jurica Sabol (1984) graduated geology and paleontology in 2011 at the Faculty of Science in Zagreb. Since 2011, has been employed at the Krapina Neanderthal Museum as a guide, and since 2015, he has been a curator of the Paleontological Collection and the Experimental Archeology Collection. Since April 2017, he has been appointed the head of the Krapina Neanderthal Museum, and since February 2021 he is general director of the Museums of the Croatian Zagorje. He is member of the international networks Ice Age Europe, European Heritage Label Network and the Croatian Geological Society. Author of numerous thematic exhibitions and professional articles based on paleontology and paleoanthropology. In a professional sense, he research and interprets Paleogene and Neogene paleoenvironments based on various analyzes of microfossils, which are also the subject of his doctoral thesis. KRAPINA NEANDERTHAL MUSEUM.
Hušnjakovo site rates among the most important paleontological sites in the world. Since the great discovery at the beginning of 20 th century, it has been attracting a large number of visitors, specially after the Site was and the old Museum of Evolution was founded in 1971 and housed in former Kneipp Spa. The idea of building a new museum building was achieved in 2010 when a new Krapina Neanderthal Museum was opened, today one of the most modern and frequently visited museums in Croatia. Multidisciplinary and interactive approach are distinguishing features of the museum exhibition representing a time machine, a journey from the most distant past of the Earth to modern times, with a special emphasis on the evolution of man and the significance of the discovery of Krapina early man. The museum exhibition is divided into 18 thematic units telling the intricate story of the development of life on Earth and the evolution of man taking advantage of numerous exhibits, visual interpretation, multimedia installations and effects. Throughout the year, numerous Museum visitors are also offered various happenings and events like temporary exhibitions, presentations and concerts. The majority of visitors being kids, educational workshops and playgroups are organized, enabling them to learn through their own experience, research and creative work. Together with numerous awards and certificates, Krapina Neanderthal Museum and Hušnjakovo Site were awarded the European Heritage Label, a recognition of their importance and extraordinary value of this site.