抄録
This paper is a report on a "rescue" project for the tsunami-damaged geological collection of the Rikuzentakata City Museum (RCM), Iwate Prefecture, Northeast Japan. It also addresses issues surrounding natural history collections, networks of curators and institutions, and discusses the significance of "rescue" for materials in the field of earth sciences. The RCM has a history of more than 50 years, and houses more than 150,000 materials in the field of acheology, history, folklore, entomology, zoology, botany, and geology. The Tsunami on 11 March 2011 hit the RCM and other museums along the coasts of Iwate Prefecture. The "rescue" activity began in early April for cultural properties and natural history specimens such as shells, insects, and plants. The geological specimens, which have les concern abut deterioration, were brought from the RCM ot a recently closed elementary school in the geographically higher area of Rikuzentakata City in early May. In August and October, 33 geologists and paleontologists from 24 institutions engaged in recovering the geological specimens there. The activities are currently ongoing. In the "rescue" activity two issues came to our attention. First, natural history collections have no logal protetion unlike cultural properties in Japan. Security of important natural history specimens has to be established. Importance of collections in natural history museums has to be further known to the public in Japan to do so. Second, good network of curators is necessary in launching a proper "rescue" activity. In addition to the personal network of curators, a system of cooperation among institutions should be there to help participating individuals. The geological specimens in the museums help us to learn not only local geological history but also the history and evolution of Earth system. In light of the earthquake and tsunamis on 11 March 2011, the importance of these specimens has to be further known to the public, so that the communities throughout Japan are better prepared for future natural disasters.
