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| Artefacts from the age of the Dinosaurs |
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With fossils, you can be more closely involved with the whole
process of collecting from start to finish than with any other
form, because it is perfectly possible to be the person who literally
first discovers a specimen that has been trapped within rock
for perhaps millions of years.
But it is also possible to build a collection without such intimate
involvement with the total process, perhaps based on a fascination
with the appearance of particular types of fossil, or on a connection
with a particular locality within the British Isles.
Fossils are usually the hard parts of organisms – bones,
teeth, shells and so on – preserved as moulds or casts
in rock. There are even rare examples of soft tissues such
as whole jellyfish found in shale deposits, or entire animal
bodies may be frozen or preserved in amber or tar. Geology
is based on such fossil discoveries and what they reveal about
the age of the material in which they have been enclosed.
It may surprise many people that there is quite a large and
thriving market for fossil remains in Britain. Obviously,
as with all collectibles, there are rarities with high prices
attached, but there are many attractive fossils available for
reasonable sums.
Mining, quarrying, erosion and exploration all contribute to
the continuous availability of fossils, with examples including
leaf and wood remains, fish, animals and dinosaurs. Amongst
the most popular are ammonites, fossils of an extinct form of
mollusc with a flat coiled spiral shell, which makes for a very
attractive display feature in any collection.
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111008
Landscape stone, also known as Cotham marble, Triassic
period, c. 245-202 million years old
Cotham marble, a form of 'Landscape stone' so named
because the fossilised algae form together into patterns
that look like landscapes
These colonies of stromatolite algae are among the
earliest forms of life on earth - and date back over 200 million
years
Scientists still cannot decide whether they are plant
or animal
Of great age and includes one of the earliest signs
of life on earth
Each is approx 8cm in length
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item will comply
with the description provided above.
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111042
Fossil of a Giant ammonite, Cretacious
period, c. 100 million years old, from Morocco
Fossil of a giant Mantilliceras ammonite
Found in Morocco
Ammonites have been known by mankind since Biblical
times
The coiled shell of these creatures are divided
into a series of chambers and only the final
chamber next to the opening was occupied by the
creatures
They have become known as 'ammonites' because
the shell resembled the ram's horns of Ammon,
the Egyptian god of life and creation
Each is 15-20cm diameter, and solid stone (heavy)
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item
will comply with the description provided above. |
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111040
Fossilised Wood segments, Triassic
period, c. 220 million years old from Madagascar
Sliced segments of fossilised wood around 220
million years old
The Triassic period was one of the most prolific
for the development of plants.
These slices of fossilised wood from Madagascar
have been agatised by the mineral salts in surrounding
rocks, creating wonderful colours
Very attractive and decorative
Each is 8cm - 11cm in diameter and may be irregular
in shape
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item
will comply with the description provided above. |
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111035
Fossil of a Dactyloceras, also
known as a 'St Hilda's serpent', Jurassic period, c. 170
million years old
Fossil of a Dactyloceras also known as St. Hilda's
serpent
So named because it was believed that St Hilda
drove the serpents off the cliff at Whitby where,
on crashing to the ground they were turned into
stone ammonites
These lovely polished Dactyloceras ammonite when
opened reveals both sides
Predominantly dark stone some with golden coloured
flecks
Each measures 6cm-8cm length
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item will
comply with the description provided above. |
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111074
Fish fossil, 36-58 Million
Years old from the Green River formation in Wyoming
Fish are the most primitive of vertebrates first
appearing about 500 million years ago. These fish
fossils are from Green River in Wyoming and belong
to the Knightia species.
The fish would have been washed
up on shore and preserved in the sediment that has
now become sedimentary rock.
The Green River formation in Wyoming is a famous
area rich in fossils and these examples are highly
visual. |
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111016
Fossil of a Brazilia Rhacolepis
fish, Cretacious period, c. 120-80 million years old, from
Brazil
Fossil of a Brazilia Rhacolepis fish dating to
the lower Cretacious period
From the Santana formation of Brazil, an undisturbed
fossil accumulation in northeastern Brazil's Araripe
Basin
Much of the strata were laid down during the early
Cretaceous circa 108 to 92 million years ago, in
a shallow inland sea
What makes the Santana Formation extraordinary
above all are its spectacularly well-preserved
fossil fishes, some 25 species
This fish would have been washed up onto prehistoric
shores and become stranded and preserved in the
stone
Each is approximately 20cm in length
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item will
comply with the description provided above. |
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111031
Fossilised Dinosaur Egg, most
likely a Therizinosaur, Cretaceous period, 86-75 million
years old
Fossilised dinosaur egg, most likely of a Therizinosaur,
dating from the upper Cretaceous period
Now fossilised (ie. turned to stone) and usually
not complete as it is very difficult to detect
complete specimens
The Therizinosaur was quite large and bulky between
2m and 10m in length and may have weighed from
45kg up to 6 tonnes
It had four main toes, a small head with large
leaflike teeth, and enormous claws on their manus
(hands) - up to 3 feet long
Their tooth and jaw remains suggests they might
have been herbivores
Dinosaur eggs were never large in proportion to
their parents as the shell would have needed to
be too thick for the young to hatch
Not a single dinosaur egg had been found prior
to 1900 so scientists theorised that young were
'hatched'
Each is approximately 6 inches in length
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item will
comply with the description provided above. |
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111005
Bowl carved from 'Pagoda' stone,
with fossilised Orthoceras inclusions, Palaeozoic era,
c. 400 million years old
This type of stone is called 'Pagoda stone' because
the Chinese believed that it was created when the
shadows of their Pagodas hit the ground and the
shadows were turned to stone
The pagoda shapes are in fact fossils of the Orthoceras,
a squid-like mollusc that lived in the palaeozoic
seas 400 millions years ago
From a larger piece of fossilised stone this item
has been shaped and polished
It includes a number of inclusions of fossilised
Orthoceras, which date back approximately 400 million
years
Bowl of diameter 15cm
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item will
comply with the description provided above. |
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111006
Large bowl carved from 'Pagoda'
stone, with fossilised Orthoceras inclusions, Palaeozoic
era, c. 400 million years old
This type of stone is called 'Pagoda stone' because
the Chinese believed that it was created when the
shadows of their Pagodas hit the ground and the
shadows were turned to stone
The pagoda shapes are in fact fossils of the Orthoceras,
a squid-like mollusc that lived in the palaeozoic
seas 400 millions years ago
From a larger piece of fossilised stone this item
has been shaped and polished
It includes a number of inclusions of fossilised
Orthoceras, which date back approximately 400 million
years
Bowl of diameter 21cm
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item will
comply with the description provided above. |
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111032
Plate carved from 'Pagoda' stone,
with fossilised Orthoceras inclusions, Palaeozoic era,
c. 400 million years old
This type of stone is called 'Pagoda stone' because
the Chinese believed that it was created when the
shadows of their Pagodas hit the ground and the
shadows were turned to stone
The pagoda shapes are in fact fossils of the Orthoceras,
a squid-like mollusc that lived in the palaeozoic
seas 400 millions years ago
From a larger piece of fossilised stone this item
has been shaped and polished
It includes a number of inclusions of fossilised
Orthoceras, which date back approximately 400 million
years
Plate of diameter 20cm
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item will
comply with the description provided above. |
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111033
Five different semi-precious
stones fashioned into egg shapes, millions of years old
Set of 5 decorative 'eggs' hewn from semi-precious
stones
The stone from which these are fashioned was formed
millions of years ago
Because they are cool to the touch ladies in Victorian
times used them to cool their hands when feeling
faint
Although exact size varies, most are 70mm length
Superb in any decor - colourful and interesting
Each prehistoric item is an original and therefore
no two are identical in all respects. Some variation
will occur from the item shown but each item will
comply with the description provided above. |
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