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September 30, 2022
MoAW
presents
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PALEOZOIC ERA
from 570 million to 345 million years ago
Known as the Cambrian explosion, about 570 million years ago dense populations of complex sea creatures suddenly appeared, marking the beginning of the Cambrian period and of the Paleozoic era.
First discovered in northern Wales (once known as Cambria), fossils of this period document the early establishment of all modern animal phyla, followed by the emergence of primitive, jawless fish in the Ordovician (500 million years ago), named for an ancient Celtic tribe of western Wales, the Ordovices, whose farms were built on rocks rich in fossils. Following the Ordovician, rich formations found along the border of Wales and England derive their name from the savage tribe of Silures that inhabited the region during the Roman occupation.
Throughout the Silurian (435 million years ago), plants and insects invaded the land. In the Devonian (395 million years ago), characterized by fossils first discovered in Devon, England, advanced lobe-finned fish and tetrapod amphibians appeared in the freshwater streams of the newly formed Old Red Sandstone Continent which united Greenland with Europe and North America. At the close of both the Ordovician and Devonian periods, Gondwanaland drifted over the south pole, triggering the onset of glacial episodes accompanied by mass extinctions of marine life.
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Order Crossopterygii,
Suborder Thipidistia
Eusthenopteron foordi
Late Devonian, Canada
As the Late Devonian freshwater streams and ponds shrank or dried up during periods of drought, the primordial, lobe-finned lungfish of the period developed rudimentary adaptations to the hostile environment of land before spreading into the seas. Special bone features that enabled them to crawl on their fins evolved not for the purpose of escaping the aquatic environment, but as a means of reaching fresher water when shrinking pools became crowded and putrid or the streams became too muddy.
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A formidable predator resembling the modern pike and perfectly preserved with its fins and scales intact, this elongated freshwater fish was highly adapted to the severe climatic fluctuations (often daily) of the Devonian. With tear ducts to keep its eyes moist and lungs derived from a simple air bladder originally employed to keep the bodies of fish right side up, Eusthenopteron (“Good Strong Fin”) was able to breathe out of the water during times of drought and stagnation while other fish suffered asphyxiation. Some of the descendants of this ruggedly adaptive crossopterygian fish gave rise to tetrapod amphibians, the others, to saltwater coelacanths. The apparent progenitor of all terrestrial vertebrates, it was extinct by the dawn of the Permian. Royal Ontario Museum. | |
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Class Amphibia,
Subclass Labyrinthodontia
Ichthyostega
Late Devonian, Greenland
The origin of terrestrial vertebrate life appears to have begun in Greenland with the appearance of the first tetrapod amphibians. Among the earliest of these creatures, Ichthyostega (“Fish Plate”) inhabited freshwater lakes and streams during the Late Devonian and Early Carboniferous. Derived from crossopterygian fish, this air-breathing predator still retained many of the primitive fishlike structures of its ancestors. Although it possessed scales and a long tail fin, it also had a sturdy backbone and 4 short limbs, each equipped with 7 digits, enabling it to waddle about on dry land for limited periods of time before having to return to the water. Unlike the amphibians that were to follow, Ichthyostega lacked notches for ears, an indication that it had no auditory sense.
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Its direct relation to crossopterygian fish is evidenced by their virtually identical tooth patterns, a distinctive characteristic with ichthyostega passed on to the varied generations of labyrinthodont amphibians that it produced. In fact, this important creature is believed to have given rise to all of the diverse and prolific groups of reptiles, birds, and mammals which followed. Although well-documented in the fossil record, Ichthyostega is known only from incomplete remains. Skull reconstruction courtesy of the Swedish Museum of Natural History. | |
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Class Amphibia,
Subclass Lepospondyli
Diplocaulus magnicomis
Early Permian, Texas
Among the most bizarre of the Permian lepospondyl amphibians is Diplocaulus (“Two-Tail”), a flattened, bottom-dwelling predator of the Late Pennsylvanian to Early Permian streams and ponds. Ranging from 1 to 3 feet in length and lying in wait in the murky bottom, Diplocaulus fed by ambushing its prey, its upward-looking eyes positioned on top of its grotesquely boomerang-shaped head.
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With tiny legs for their overall body length and a body too flattened to bear the musculature necessary for swift locomotion, Diplocaulus was probably not a very strong swimmer despite speculations regarding the hydrodynamic properties of its oversized head. Unable to see each other except by touch due to the placement of their eyes, the widely extended corners of these creatures’ skulls may have provided advantages in intimidating displays of head-butting during mating competition, gradually producing a genetic favoring of those with the greatest range. Private collection. | |
CURRENT EXHIBTIONS ON DISPLAY | |
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Photo: Dean Keefer
Demetre Chiparus (1886-1947)
Civa (Shiva)
Cold-painted, patinated,
enameled bronze and
chryselephantine
1925
ALL UNDER HEAVEN
Earth, Heaven,
and the Afterlife
A Very Special Gift From
Marlene and Bruce Kanter,
Heather James Fine Art
Tim Walsh
Michael H. Healy
Tianxia (天下) or, All Under Heaven, is the ideal of a perfect and harmonious empire in the eyes of the people.
50 original antiquities spanning millennia (3,600 B.C. to 1850 A.D.) of ancient Asian cultures, from mysterious funerary objects and life-size protective temple guardians, to delicate terracotta sculptures created for the tombs of the deceased. A tapestry of silk and gold thread, a rare lacquered cosmetic box, earthen vessels, and bronze statues, these ancient treasures from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, celebrate everlasting happiness, remembrance, and eternal life.
This grand collection of 50 Asian antiquities is divided into three sections: Earthly possessions, objects used by the living, the temple icons of Buddha and Shiva (Heaven), and funerary goods, objects found in the tombs of the elite (the Afterlife). Representing China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, MoAW premieres these dazzling artifacts for the first time together in one exhibition All Under Heaven: Earth, Heaven, and the Afterlife.
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PALEO: The Story of Life
4.6 billion years of fossil history
Drawn from the world’s foremost fossil collections, the unprecedented treasury of fossil casts known as PALEO: The Story of Life brings together in one exhibition some of the most exciting finds in the history of paleontology from over a century of worldwide excavations, exhibited in geological, chronological order.
From 2.5 billion-year-old single cellular cyanobacteria responsible for the oxygenation of the atmosphere to the first multicellular life of 700 million years ago, PALEO: The Story of Life spans 4.6 billion years in scope. From the Precambrian to the Paleozoic Era, from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Periods of the Mesozoic Era to mammals and prehistoric humans of the Cenozoic Era (including the famous Lucy skeleton), this internationally acclaimed, comprehensive collection dramatically illustrates the awesome story of prehistoric life on Earth.
Displaying casts of rare fossils from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, this prestigious collection includes skeletons, skulls, claws, and eggs gathered from such revered museums as the Smithsonian Institution, the American Museum of Natural History, The Royal Ontario Museum, the Carnegie Museum, and the National Museums of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, as well as many others.
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Agnes Pelton - Artist of the Cove
Cathedral City
Historical Society
presents
Then and Now
A 40th-year anniversary exhibition of the history of Cathedral City
A comprehensive photographic and artifact-rich timeline of the history of Cathedral City greets you upon entering the lobby of the Museum of Ancient Wonders. This is an exhibition of recollections of the people and places that created Cathedral City's early history and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its burgeoning progress, from the past to the present, THEN AND NOW is a loving tribute to the City of Cathedral City.
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THE CRAB NEBULA (M1) IN TAURUS.
Photographed with the 26-inch Crossley Reflector at Lick Observatory. Copyright Regents, University of California. Lick Observatory photograph.
STARSCAPE:
A Journey To The
Beginning of Time
This spectacular collection of 33 space photographs combines breathtaking digitalized images from the historic Mariner, Viking, and Voyager probes with stunning photographs from the Apollo lunar missions, the Hubble Space Telescope, and ground-based observatories. Gathered from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the California Institute of Technology, the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and the Hansen Planetarium, this awesome display of cosmic spectacles is a journey to the early days of the cosmos.
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photo: Steve Salisbury
LUCY:
(Australopithecus afarensis)
The Story of Human Origins
(Courtesy of the Institute of Human Origins and
the National Museum of Ethiopia,
Addis Ababa)
On view exclusively at the
Museum of Ancient Wonders
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JURASSIC WONDERS
11 Lifesize Metal Dinosaurs
Public Art Display
created by
Ricardo Breceda
MoAW presents JURASSIC WONDERS, a public art installation in collaboration with Cathedral City displaying 11 lifesize Dinosaurs created by renowned artist Ricardo Breceda. Divided into 4 stunning dioramas on the corner of Buddy Rogers Drive and East Palm Canyon Drive across the street from City Hall until December 31, 2022.
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TUTANKHAMUN
"Wonderful Things"
Treasures From The Pharaoh's Tomb
2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon. To share in the commemoration, MoAW's "Wonderful Things" exhibition is on a nationwide tour. Click on the link below to see the installation on the banks of the Sacramento River at Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding CA.
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FREE WEEKEND ADMISSION TO ALL
COACHELLA VALLEY RESIDENTS
Museum of Ancient Wonders Offers Free Admission on Saturdays and Sundays
to All Residents in Association with Nine Coachella Valley Municipalities
Beginning September 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays and from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays, local families are invited to visit MoAW at no charge. This generous offer will end on December 31, 2022.
Free admission will require all attending residents to produce identification that lists a local address, signing of the registry, and fill out a brief survey identifying at least one object in the museum’s collection that inspired them to want to learn more about the subject.
For further information visit: www.MoAW.org or call (442) 268-5004.
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Become A Member of MoAW
The newest perk of membership: Free admission to more than 1,200 museums nationwide through the North American Reciprocal Museum Program (NARM) Plus, discounts at their museum shops and restaurants (if given to their members). Local museums include the Palm Springs Art Museum and Cabot's Pueblo Museum, several museums in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco, throughout California, all 50 states, and the District of Columbia, including Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda. This is available to all members at the Donor Level ($125.00) or higher. Members who qualify will be receiving new membership cards with the NARM logo to be used at participating museums.
Current members who would like to upgrade their membership to take advantage of this new benefit please give us a call, (442) 268-5004.
Click below for more information and to join.
THANK YOU
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MoAW's mission is to educate a diverse audience about the history of ancient civilizations and prehistoric life using fossils and artifacts from a variety of cultures and time periods; to enhance universal curriculum development for local and surrounding school districts, colleges, and universities, establishing museum diversity for the Coachella Valley.
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Saturday
10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
The last admission is taken one hour before closing.
Admission:
$15.00 Adults
$12.00 Students, Seniors, & Military
$ 3.00 Discount available for Coachella Valley Residents
$10.00 Group Rate for 10 or more individuals.
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, MoAW is a member of the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association, the American Alliance of Museums, and the California Association of Museums. Contributions are tax-deductible and gratefully accepted.
MoAW IS SPONSORED WITH FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
BY THE FOLLOWING:
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Alberto Acosta, Executive Director & Chief Curator
Joseph McCabe, Director of Development
Art Laboe Foundation, Inc.
Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation
Cathedral City Historical Society
Council Member Raymond Gregory,
Cathedral City
City of Rancho Mirage
Members and Patrons
THANK YOU
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