North America, Harding County, South Dakota, Hell Creek Formation, late Cretaceous, ca. 70 to 66.5 million years ago. This is a massive, fossilized pubis bone from the hadrosaur dinosaur Edmontosaurus annectens! The location this bone was found comes from a bed of that is comprised entirely of Edmontosaurus and it is suspected a flood killed a large herd of these dinosaurs, washing the bones downriver where they were scavenged and eventually fossilized. The pubis is 1 of 3 bones that form the pelvis, significant since hadrosaurs are bird-hipped (ornithischian) meaning the hips were oriented with backward facing pubic bones, the two classifications of dinosaurs is based entirely on this bone, making it extremely important when identifying new species! The bone structure is excellent, and the surface has developed a lovely umber brown hue from the fossilization process. Size: 35.5" L x 8" W (90.2 cm x 20.3 cm); 17" H (43.2 cm) on included custom stand.

The impressive size of this bone is in line with the huge body of this type of duck billed (hadrosaurid) dinosaur, who could be nearly 50 feet long and weight over 9 tons! Edmontosaurus means the "lizard of Edmonton" after the capital city of the province where they were first unearthed. These animals were gregarious, living and nesting in groups, and the location that this bone was found further proves this family-herd dynamic. The bone bed it was excavated from is comprised entirely of Edmontosaurus bones from multiple animals. This fossil comes from private land near one of the most famous and fossil-dense find areas known from the Cretaceous period, the Hell Creek Formation, composed of various clays, mudstones, and sandstones. The most complete Edmontosaurus specimen ever found is from this area, alongside other famous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops.

Provenance: private Berthoud, Colorado, USA collection

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#167918

Professionally prepared with infill added to gaps and fissures. Chips and some minor losses to tips of bone. Beautiful coloration and large size.