The mysterious skull from Ma'agan Michael - real or 3D printed?

Is the skull in the pictures real? Did you have trouble identifying it too? Don't worry - even our researchers were confused for a moment! Only after careful examination was it possible to determine which parts belonged to the real skull, and which were built for us on an advanced 3D printer. And who does the skull belong to? Read in the article

הגולגולת המשוחזרת. יחידה במינה. צילום: נפתלי אדר

In a unique project, the Delphis Association partnered with Stratasys, one of the world's leading companies in the field of 3D printing. With the help of Naftali Adar, the company's Director of Applications Engineering, the missing lower jaw of the skull was printed - thus completing a particularly complex and challenging reconstruction process. The end result? A spectacular and powerful skull - an educational tool that will now accompany the trainings at the Dolphin and Sea Center - Delphis' educational center, located in Ashdod.

שני החלקים שחוברו להם יחדיו. צילום: נפתלי אדר

The skull, which is placed in the center of the monument, belongs to a Mediterranean monk seal, one of the rarest species in the world. However, the identity of the seal still remains a mystery!

An unsolved mystery

On March 22 of this year, she was found on the beach of Ma'agan Michael, examined by Dr. Mia Elser of Delphis, who leads seal research in Israel, and taken for an autopsy at the superpredator laboratory of the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station at the University of Haifa. The autopsy, performed by Dr. Danny Morik, head of marine pathology at the Morris Kahn Marine Research Station, Dr. Aviad Sheinin, director of the Dolphin and Sea Center of the Delphis Association and head of the superpredator department at the Morris Kahn Station, and Matan Benedict, a veterinary student and volunteer at the Delphis Association, did not reveal a cause of death.

We at Delphis continue to monitor reports from abroad and are in contact with researchers across the water to obtain confirmation that this is not Julia, the famous monk seal that visited Israel in 2023.

מבט מלפנים. גולגולת כלבת הים הנזירית הים תיכונית. החוקרים מקווים שלא מדובר ביוליה. צילום: נפתלי אדר

You are welcome to come and see for yourself.

The special skull is now on display at the Delphis Dolphin and Sea Center alongside other marine mammal skeletons - including a spectacular skeleton of a fin whale. This is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with the world of marine mammals, learn about them, and participate in an experiential Sukkot activity for the whole family.

Please note:

Special thanks

A huge thank you to Stratasys and Naftali Adar for their exceptional collaboration; to Shlomi Marko, a Delphis volunteer, who initiated the connection with the company; to Michal Dahan Israel from the Dolphin and Sea Center, and to Matan Benedict for their contributions to preparing the display.