David, you made a remarkable discovery in your office. Tell us about it.
Of course, gladly. A few months ago, when I started my new position as plant manager in Alzenau, I discovered a small, framed fossil on the wall during the inspection of my office. My predecessor told me that it was a genuine piece and that the fossil had been given to Xella at some point.
What prompted you to investigate the story?
A newspaper report about the ancient horse found in Messel last summer. And then a visit with my son to the Hessian State Museum in Darmstadt. The ancient horses exhibited there looked very similar to what I had hanging in my office. For me, it was clear that if it was real, it belonged in a museum. So, I called the state museum and described what I had in my office. Understandably, they were initially skeptical over the phone. After all, genuine fossils don’t usually hang on office walls. But I was persistent—that’s just part of my nature as a plant manager. So, I packed up my fossil and drove to the Hessian State Museum to have it examined on site.
How was the reception?
I was received by Prof. Dr. Torsten Wappler, who actually took the time to see me but was also quite skeptical. When he opened the wooden frame and placed his finger on the matrix surrounding the fossil, he became very quiet, looked at me, and said, "Mr. Reis, I believe this is original!"
The key indicator was the type of preparation. It was a method from the 1960s used to rebed all excavation finds from Messel at the time. He immediately called several colleagues to examine the find as well. They all agreed: the fossil is genuine. It was a great moment. I could hardly believe that this small piece of history had been hanging unnoticed in my office for so long.
Now, the "Xella Fossil" can be admired as a loan in the special exhibition in Messel, and the Hessian State Museum also receives a donation check for €2000.
Exactly. I am very pleased that this valuable piece is now accessible to the public and its story can be told. Together with our sister plant in Messel, we also took the opportunity to support the important work of the state museum with a donation from the Xella Community Engagement Budget.