Ligabue Study and Research Centre

Anthropology in the true sense of the word

The Ligabue Study and Research Centre was created by Giancarlo Ligabue in 1971, and the great palaeontologist has guided its development ever since with the organization of over 50 expeditions and missions around the world in the fields of archaeology, palaeontology, and natural science.

The Ligabue Study and Research Centre (LSRC) symbol is a graphic reconstruction of a third-millennium seal from Bactria, an ancient country in what is now Afghanistan, whose inhabitants had close contacts with the Iranic West and the regions beyond the Himalayas along the historic trade route later called the Silk Road. The culture’s metallurgical production was remarkable, as was the art of stamping seals, one of which was chosen as the Center’s symbol: a silver seal depicting a winged man with the head of a bird of prey seated on the coils of a snake. This composition seemed to be an excellent way of summarizing its fields of interest. The main focus is on Man, both the subject and object of all research (anthropology in the widest sense of the word). But also present is the serpentine form alluding to the latent monsters in the fables and dreams of human life  (palaeontology) and the animal world in general (natural sciences). Lastly, the object itself invites us to explore our buried past (archaeology). Thirty years ago, this seal stood for a challenge when the LSRC was created as a non-profit association for the promotion of scientific and cultural research in general but with a special emphasis on prehistory, archaeology, palaeontology and particularly nature studies. Looking back today on the efforts and initiatives promoted over the years, we can safely say that this challenge has been won and that it will also be continued. The greatest source of pride for us is having created a school of experience in the field for young researchers worldwide devoted to human and earth sciences.



www.csrligabue.it