Abstract

The sea urchin of Sanssouci. – Here we describe the history of the holotype of the Cretaceous sea urchin Salenia sigillata which is derived from diluvial deposits of the Park of Sanssouci (Potsdam). In our study we present a picture of the growing network of educated citizens in the Prussian society interested in natural sciences during the first half of the 19th century on the basis of the history of the way on which the find wandered from a young gardener to the famous geologist Leopold von Buch. In addition, we also show how the scientific significance of this remarkable fossil changed, reflecting the rapid progress of the young discipline of palaeontology in the 19th and early 20th century.