Trends on paleoart in the paleontology research and public education: A thematic review

Zheng Lu; Rosalam Che  Me; Rahmita Wirza O.K. Rahmat

doi:10.31893/multirev.2025168

Keywords:

Abstract

Paleoart, the artistic representation of prehistoric life based on scientific evidence, plays a crucial role in paleontological research and public education. It serves as a bridge between scientific discoveries and public understanding, making complex paleontological data accessible and engaging. Despite its importance, there has been limited comprehensive analysis of the trends and historical development of paleoart within academic research and educational contexts. This gap hinders a holistic understanding of how paleoart has contributed to and been influenced by advancements in paleontological research and public education.Utilizing a thematic review (TR) methodology, this study incorporates keywords such as paleoart, paleontology, and education from the SCOPUS, WoS and Mendeley databases, and a total of 30 papers published between 2013 and 2024 were reviewed. The thematic analysis reveals three key themes: scientific and aesthetic decision, Integration of digital technology, and outreach impact. The findings highlight how paleoartists balance scientific fidelity with creative interpretation, addressing the challenges of reconstructing extinct organisms from incomplete fossil records. The integration of advanced digital tools, such as 3D modeling, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR), has significantly enhanced the accuracy, accessibility, and educational value of paleoart. This review underscores the need for continued exploration of technological innovations and interdisciplinary collaborations to further strengthen paleoart's scientific precision and artistic appeal. The findings also pave the way for future research into the specific impacts of paleoart on public understanding and educational outcomes. By informing strategies to optimize the use of paleoart in scientific communication, this research provides valuable insights for educators, researchers, and policymakers. Future studies should prioritize the development of standardized frameworks and guidelines for paleoart creation, ensuring its sustained evolution as a compelling medium for paleontological visualization and education.
References
1. Alcalá, L. (2018). Dinópolis, Halfway between Amusement Park and Science Museum: How to Develop Geotourism in A Region Undergoing Depopulation. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 6(2), 40–71. https://doi.org/10.17149/ijgp.j.issn.2577.4441.2018.02.004
2. Allmon, W. D. (2017). Life-restorations of ammonites and the challenges of taxonomic uniformitarianism. Earth Sciences History, 36(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.17704/1944-6178-36.1.1
3. Ansón, M., Fernández-Pérez, M. H., & Ramos, P. A. S. (2015). Paleoart: Term and conditions (a survey among paleontologists). XIII Meeting of Early-Stage Researchers in Paleontology (XIII EJIP).
4. Ansón, M., & Hernández Fernández, M. (2020). Artistic reconstruction of the appearance of Prosantorhinus Heissig, 1974, the teleoceratine rhinoceros from the Middle Miocene of Somosaguas. Spanish Journal of Palaeontology, 28(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.7203/sjp.28.1.17815
5. Bennett, M. R., Budka, M., Belvedere, M., & Reynolds, S. (2022). Deploying augmented reality to help engage the public with palaeontological applications. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 133(1), 22–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2021.10.001
6. Berta, A. (2021). Art revealing science: Marine mammal palaeoart. Historical Biology, 33(11), 2897–2907. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1834541
7. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful Qualitative Research a practical guide for beginners.
8. Brinkman, P. D. (2018). John Conrad Hansen (1869–1952) and his scientific illustrations. Archives of Natural History, 45(2), 233–244. https://doi.org/10.3366/anh.2018.0516
9. Cunningham, J. A., Rahman, I. A., Lautenschlager, S., Rayfield, E. J., & Donoghue, P. C. J. (2014). A virtual world of paleontology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 29(6), 347–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2014.04.004
10. Currie, A. (2023). Cleaning, sculpting or preparing? Scientific knowledge in Caitlin Wylie’s preparing dinosaurs. Biology & Philosophy, 38(2), 10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-023-09902-4
11. Davis, M., Nye, B., Sinatra, G., Swartout, W., Sjӧberg, M., Porter, M., Nelson, D., Kennedy, A., Herrick, I., DeNeve Weeks, D., & Lindsey, E. (2022). Designing scientifically-grounded paleoart for augmented reality at La Brea Tar Pits. Palaeontologia Electronica. https://doi.org/10.26879/1191
12. De Francesco, T., & Marra, A. C. (2021). Paleoart as a teaching tool: Life restorations of quaternary mammals of Sicily (Italy). Atti Della Accademia Perloritana Dei Pericolanti. Classe Di Scienze Fisiche, Matematiche e Naturali, 99(S1), A9-1-A9-11. https://doi.org/10.1478/AAPP.99S1A9
13. De Sousa Oliveira, S., Girard, L., Raselli, I., & Anquetin, J. (2023). Virtual reconstruction of a Late Jurassic metriorhynchid skull from Switzerland and its use for scientific illustration and paleoart. MorphoMuseuM, 9(3), e178. https://doi.org/10.18563/journal.m3.178
14. Eriksson, M. E. (2014). Master of puppets: Sculpting ancient worlds. Geology Today, 30(3), 98–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/gto.12053
15. Eriksson, M. E., De La Garza, R., Horn, E., & Lindgren, J. (2022). A review of ichthyosaur (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia) soft tissues with implications for life reconstructions. Earth-Science Reviews, 226, 103965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.103965
16. Eriksson, M. E., & Horn, E. (2017). Agnostus pisiformis—A half a billion-year old pea-shaped enigma. Earth-Science Reviews, 173, 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.08.004
17. Feldman, V. (2016). Immersive paleoart: Reconstructing dreadnoughtus schrani and remediating the science documentary for cinematic virtual reality. ACM SIGGRAPH 2016 Posters, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1145/2945078.2945160
18. Ghilardi, D. R. P. (2010). The briefing in paleodesign: Selection and arrangement of data for the reconstitution of paleovertebrates.
19. Hochadel, O. (2022). Facing Our Ancestors: The Craft of the Paleoartist. Nuncius, 37(3), 643–673. https://doi.org/10.1163/18253911-bja10034
20. Khatwa Ford, A. (2019). Resonance in rocks: Building a sustainable learning and engagement programme for the Jurassic Coast. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 130(3–4), 507–521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2018.10.003
21. Manucci, F., & Romano, M. (2023). Reviewing the iconography and the central role of ‘paleoart’: Four centuries of geo-palaeontological art. Historical Biology, 35(1), 1–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2021.2017919
22. Miller, E. (2021). The dinosaur from 600 BCE! Interpreting the dragon of Babylon, from archaeological excavation into fringe science. Endeavour, 45(4), 100798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.endeavour.2021.100798
23. Monnin, V. (2023). The Dinosaur Renaissance 1960s-80s: A Foundational Episode for the Historiography of Paleoart. HoST - Journal of History of Science and Technology, 17(1), 4–16. https://doi.org/10.2478/host-2023-0002
24. Půtová, B. (2021). Natural history objects, casts and reconstructions and their role in scientific work in the 19th and 20th century: Karel absolon’s collecting activity. Anthropologie (Czech Republic), 59(2), 113–132. https://doi.org/10.26720/anthro.21.03.29.1
25. Romano, M., Maganuco, S., Nosotti, S., & Manucci, F. (2016). Taking up the legacy of Waterhouse Hawkins and Owen: Art and science for a new Italian project to bring back dinosaurs to life. Historical Biology, 28(8), 1014–1025. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2015.1089436
26. Romano, M., Manucci, F., Antonelli, M., Rossi, M. A., Agostini, S., & Palombo, M. R. (2022a). In vivo restoration and volumetric body mass estimate of Mammuthus meridionalis from Madonna della Strada (Scoppito, L’Aquila). RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA, 128(3). https://doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/16665
27. Romano, M., Manucci, F., Antonelli, M., Rossi, M. A., Agostini, S., & Palombo, M. R. (2022b). In Vivo Restoration and Volumetric Body Mass Estimate of Mammuthus Mrridionalis From Madonna Della Strada (Scoppito, L’Aquila). Rivista Italiana Di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 128(3), 559–573. https://doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/16665
28. Romano, M., Manucci, F., Rubidge, B., & Van Den Brandt, M. J. (2021). Volumetric Body Mass Estimate and in vivo Reconstruction of the Russian Pareiasaur Scutosaurus karpinskii. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 692035. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.692035
29. Romano, M., & Sardella, R. (2020). Tyrannosaurus rex it is not a prehistoric animal: Roaring in a semantic prehistoric jungle. Biosis:Biological Systems, 1(3), 96–101. https://doi.org/10.37819/biosis.001.03.0061
30. Ross, R. M., Duggan-Haas, D., & Allmon, W. D. (2013). The Posture of Tyrannosaurus rex: Why Do Student Views Lag Behind the Science? Journal of Geoscience Education, 61(1), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.5408/11-259.1
31. Seghedi, A., Andrășanu, A., & Rădan, S. (2017). The transylvanian dinosaur museum project: The contribution of geoecomar to valorize and promote the paleontological heritage of romania. Geo-Eco-Marina, 2017(23), 145–164.
32. SEGHEDI, A., ANDRĂȘANU, A., & RĂDAN, S. (2017). The Transylvanian Dinosaur Museum Project: The Contribution Of Geoecomar To Valorize And Promote The Paleontological Heritage Of Romania. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.1485926
33. Szanajda, A., & Jie Li, Y. (2023). Connecting Fossil Inclusions with Artistic Representations to Approach Scientific Questions. International Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, 10(5), 36–43. https://doi.org/10.20431/2349-0381.1005004
34. Vujaković, P. (2019). Battle of the giants: Plants versus animals in idealised landscapes of ‘deep time.’ PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET, 1(3), 188–196. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10058
35. Wings, O., Fischer, J., Knüppe, J., Ahlers, H., Körnig, S., & Perl, A.-M. (2023). Paleontology-themed comics and graphic novels, their potential for scientific outreach, and the bilingual graphic novel EUROPASAURUS – Life on Jurassic Islands. Geoscience Communication, 6(2), 45–74. https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-6-45-2023
36. Witton, M. P. (2017). Paleoart: Visions of the prehistoric past. Palaeontologia Electronica, 20(3), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/00087041.2018.1502955
37. Zairul, M. (2020). A THEMATIC REVIEW ON STUDENT-CENTRED LEARNING IN THE STUDIO EDUCATION. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(02). https://doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.02.95
38. Zairul, M., Azli, M., & Azlan, A. (2023). Defying tradition or maintaining the status quo? Moving towards a new hybrid architecture studio education to support blended learning post-COVID-19. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, 17(3), 554–573. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-11-2022-0251

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Lu, Z., Me, R. C., & Rahmat, R. W. O. (2025). Trends on paleoart in the paleontology research and public education: A thematic review. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8(9), 2025168. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2025168

[1] Alcalá, L. (2018). Dinópolis, Halfway between Amusement Park and Science Museum: How to Develop Geotourism in A Region Undergoing Depopulation. International Journal of Geoheritage and Parks, 6(2), 40–71. https://doi.org/10.17149/ijgp.j.issn.2577.4441.2018.02.004

[2] Allmon, W. D. (2017). Life-restorations of ammonites and the challenges of taxonomic uniformitarianism. Earth Sciences History, 36(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.17704/1944-6178-36.1.1

[3] Ansón, M., Fernández-Pérez, M. H., & Ramos, P. A. S. (2015). Paleoart: Term and conditions (a survey among paleontologists). XIII Meeting of Early-Stage Researchers in Paleontology (XIII EJIP).

[4] Ansón, M., & Hernández Fernández, M. (2020). Artistic reconstruction of the appearance of Prosantorhinus Heissig, 1974, the teleoceratine rhinoceros from the Middle Miocene of Somosaguas. Spanish Journal of Palaeontology, 28(1), 43. https://doi.org/10.7203/sjp.28.1.17815

[5] Bennett, M. R., Budka, M., Belvedere, M., & Reynolds, S. (2022). Deploying augmented reality to help engage the public with palaeontological applications. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 133(1), 22–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2021.10.001

[6] Berta, A. (2021). Art revealing science: Marine mammal palaeoart. Historical Biology, 33(11), 2897–2907. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2020.1834541

[7] Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful Qualitative Research a practical guide for beginners.

[8] Brinkman, P. D. (2018). John Conrad Hansen (1869–1952) and his scientific illustrations. Archives of Natural History, 45(2), 233–244. https://doi.org/10.3366/anh.2018.0516

[9] Cunningham, J. A., Rahman, I. A., Lautenschlager, S., Rayfield, E. J., & Donoghue, P. C. J. (2014). A virtual world of paleontology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 29(6), 347–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2014.04.004

[10] Currie, A. (2023). Cleaning, sculpting or preparing? Scientific knowledge in Caitlin Wylie’s preparing dinosaurs. Biology & Philosophy, 38(2), 10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10539-023-09902-4

[11] Davis, M., Nye, B., Sinatra, G., Swartout, W., Sjӧberg, M., Porter, M., Nelson, D., Kennedy, A., Herrick, I., DeNeve Weeks, D., & Lindsey, E. (2022). Designing scientifically-grounded paleoart for augmented reality at La Brea Tar Pits. Palaeontologia Electronica. https://doi.org/10.26879/1191

[12] De Francesco, T., & Marra, A. C. (2021). Paleoart as a teaching tool: Life restorations of quaternary mammals of Sicily (Italy). Atti Della Accademia Perloritana Dei Pericolanti. Classe Di Scienze Fisiche, Matematiche e Naturali, 99(S1), A9-1-A9-11. https://doi.org/10.1478/AAPP.99S1A9

[13] De Sousa Oliveira, S., Girard, L., Raselli, I., & Anquetin, J. (2023). Virtual reconstruction of a Late Jurassic metriorhynchid skull from Switzerland and its use for scientific illustration and paleoart. MorphoMuseuM, 9(3), e178. https://doi.org/10.18563/journal.m3.178

[14] Eriksson, M. E. (2014). Master of puppets: Sculpting ancient worlds. Geology Today, 30(3), 98–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/gto.12053

[15] Eriksson, M. E., De La Garza, R., Horn, E., & Lindgren, J. (2022). A review of ichthyosaur (Reptilia, Ichthyopterygia) soft tissues with implications for life reconstructions. Earth-Science Reviews, 226, 103965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.103965

[16] Eriksson, M. E., & Horn, E. (2017). Agnostus pisiformis—A half a billion-year old pea-shaped enigma. Earth-Science Reviews, 173, 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2017.08.004

[17] Feldman, V. (2016). Immersive paleoart: Reconstructing dreadnoughtus schrani and remediating the science documentary for cinematic virtual reality. ACM SIGGRAPH 2016 Posters, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1145/2945078.2945160

[18] Ghilardi, D. R. P. (2010). The briefing in paleodesign: Selection and arrangement of data for the reconstitution of paleovertebrates.

[19] Hochadel, O. (2022). Facing Our Ancestors: The Craft of the Paleoartist. Nuncius, 37(3), 643–673. https://doi.org/10.1163/18253911-bja10034

[20] Khatwa Ford, A. (2019). Resonance in rocks: Building a sustainable learning and engagement programme for the Jurassic Coast. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 130(3–4), 507–521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2018.10.003

[21] Manucci, F., & Romano, M. (2023). Reviewing the iconography and the central role of ‘paleoart’: Four centuries of geo-palaeontological art. Historical Biology, 35(1), 1–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2021.2017919

[22] Miller, E. (2021). The dinosaur from 600 BCE! Interpreting the dragon of Babylon, from archaeological excavation into fringe science. Endeavour, 45(4), 100798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.endeavour.2021.100798

[23] Monnin, V. (2023). The Dinosaur Renaissance 1960s-80s: A Foundational Episode for the Historiography of Paleoart. HoST - Journal of History of Science and Technology, 17(1), 4–16. https://doi.org/10.2478/host-2023-0002

[24] Půtová, B. (2021). Natural history objects, casts and reconstructions and their role in scientific work in the 19th and 20th century: Karel absolon’s collecting activity. Anthropologie (Czech Republic), 59(2), 113–132. https://doi.org/10.26720/anthro.21.03.29.1

[25] Romano, M., Maganuco, S., Nosotti, S., & Manucci, F. (2016). Taking up the legacy of Waterhouse Hawkins and Owen: Art and science for a new Italian project to bring back dinosaurs to life. Historical Biology, 28(8), 1014–1025. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2015.1089436

[26] Romano, M., Manucci, F., Antonelli, M., Rossi, M. A., Agostini, S., & Palombo, M. R. (2022a). In vivo restoration and volumetric body mass estimate of Mammuthus meridionalis from Madonna della Strada (Scoppito, L’Aquila). RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA, 128(3). https://doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/16665

[27] Romano, M., Manucci, F., Antonelli, M., Rossi, M. A., Agostini, S., & Palombo, M. R. (2022b). In Vivo Restoration and Volumetric Body Mass Estimate of Mammuthus Mrridionalis From Madonna Della Strada (Scoppito, L’Aquila). Rivista Italiana Di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 128(3), 559–573. https://doi.org/10.54103/2039-4942/16665

[28] Romano, M., Manucci, F., Rubidge, B., & Van Den Brandt, M. J. (2021). Volumetric Body Mass Estimate and in vivo Reconstruction of the Russian Pareiasaur Scutosaurus karpinskii. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 692035. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.692035

[29] Romano, M., & Sardella, R. (2020). Tyrannosaurus rex it is not a prehistoric animal: Roaring in a semantic prehistoric jungle. Biosis:Biological Systems, 1(3), 96–101. https://doi.org/10.37819/biosis.001.03.0061

[30] Ross, R. M., Duggan-Haas, D., & Allmon, W. D. (2013). The Posture of Tyrannosaurus rex: Why Do Student Views Lag Behind the Science? Journal of Geoscience Education, 61(1), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.5408/11-259.1

[31] Seghedi, A., Andrășanu, A., & Rădan, S. (2017). The transylvanian dinosaur museum project: The contribution of geoecomar to valorize and promote the paleontological heritage of romania. Geo-Eco-Marina, 2017(23), 145–164.

[32] SEGHEDI, A., ANDRĂȘANU, A., & RĂDAN, S. (2017). The Transylvanian Dinosaur Museum Project: The Contribution Of Geoecomar To Valorize And Promote The Paleontological Heritage Of Romania. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.1485926

[33] Szanajda, A., & Jie Li, Y. (2023). Connecting Fossil Inclusions with Artistic Representations to Approach Scientific Questions. International Journal of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, 10(5), 36–43. https://doi.org/10.20431/2349-0381.1005004

[34] Vujaković, P. (2019). Battle of the giants: Plants versus animals in idealised landscapes of ‘deep time.’ PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET, 1(3), 188–196. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10058

[35] Wings, O., Fischer, J., Knüppe, J., Ahlers, H., Körnig, S., & Perl, A.-M. (2023). Paleontology-themed comics and graphic novels, their potential for scientific outreach, and the bilingual graphic novel EUROPASAURUS – Life on Jurassic Islands. Geoscience Communication, 6(2), 45–74. https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-6-45-2023

[36] Witton, M. P. (2017). Paleoart: Visions of the prehistoric past. Palaeontologia Electronica, 20(3), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1080/00087041.2018.1502955

[37] Zairul, M. (2020). A THEMATIC REVIEW ON STUDENT-CENTRED LEARNING IN THE STUDIO EDUCATION. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(02). https://doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.02.95

[38] Zairul, M., Azli, M., & Azlan, A. (2023). Defying tradition or maintaining the status quo? Moving towards a new hybrid architecture studio education to support blended learning post-COVID-19. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, 17(3), 554–573. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-11-2022-0251

Abstract

References

How to cite