**First Time At Auction**

East Asia, China, Shandong Province, Jurassic to Cretaceous, ca. 199.6 to 70 million years ago. A fine split matrix of several fossilized Lycoptera fish imbedded in stone slabs - identical due to the slab cut. When excavated, the matrix is split along the natural grain and the fossil inside is also slit perfectly down the center, with the remains sticking to both sides of the slab - while sometimes one half is just an impression, here the material of the fossils is partially imbedded in both halves. There are 3 full Lycoptera fish and a partial body of one; these fish are often found in groups, suggesting they traveled in schools. The bones and even some of the soft tissue of these fish are well preserved, with additional organic plant matter that was trapped in the sediment with them as they fossilized. Keeping the matching slabs together is always a nice way to fully appreciate fossilized remains! Size (matrix): 7.75" L x 8.5" W (19.7 cm x 21.6 cm); (fish fossil): 2.75" L x 0.5" W (7 cm x 1.3 cm)

Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010

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#164123

Professionally prepared and excavated. One slab is repaired from two large pieces that are reattached with visible infill in break line on the verso, but the repair does not interfere with the fish fossils. Both slabs are split with remains of fossils nearly perfectly preserved in both halves. Fronds on the plant are better preserved in one slab due to splitting.