The Naburn whale: A new Yorkshire icon 

Project summary

This project will use ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry) to identify a rare whale skeleton held by York Museums Trust, resolving whether it is a beluga or a narwhal after more than a century of uncertainty. Confirming the specimen’s identity will restore vital collection records and unlock the history of an Arctic whale stranded near York in 1905, providing an evidence-based foundation for future research, conservation and interpretation.

The project will place the identified whale at the centre of a major public exhibition exploring human relationships with nature, biodiversity loss and climate change. By combining heritage science with museum collections research, it will improve documentation of an important historic specimen, enhance public engagement with York’s natural heritage, and demonstrate how modern scientific techniques can transform understanding of museum collections while supporting education and inspiring action on contemporary environmental challenges.