Basel–Tuscany, a long-lasting link

A significant contribution of Burkart Engesser to field surveys and palaeontological studies is undoubtedly on the Late Miocene faunas from Maremma in southern Tuscany, especially the celebrated Baccinello basin in the Grosseto district. This is not just a coincidence, but is the continuation of a long tradition. The interest of successive Palaeontologists of the Naturhistorisches Museum Basel (NMB) in Tuscan fossils and fossiliferous localities has a long history that dates back to the second half of the nineteenth century. This started with Ludwig Ru¨timeyer (1825–1895) who was the professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at the University of Basel in 1855. Ru¨timeyer was mainly interested in the natural history of Tertiary mammal species, and a number of specimens from Italy (as well as from other countries in Europe, especially France) were acquired by the NMB during his period of activity.