**Originally Listed At $200**

Ancient Seas, North America, South Dakota, Pierre Formation, Late Cretaceous Period, ca. 83.6 to 72.1 million years ago. This is a stunning fossilized shell from the cephalopod Baculite compressus, with a straight, columnar structure. The exterior has developed rainbow iridescence from the shell's nacre surface (mother of pearl). Baculite, also known as "walking stick rock," is a heteromorph ammonite with a straight rather than spiraling shell. This piece is a fragment of larger shell that housed and protected the soft tissue of the baculite creature. The internal structure is visible on both ends and provides a unique look into the chamber that has been filled in with stone during the fossilization process. Size: 4.25" L x 2" W (10.8 cm x 5.1 cm)

Provenance: ex-Anchorage, Alaska, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#166733

Fragment of a larger shell. Cracking and active flaking of opalized surface. We recommend using a display case or fixative coating to protect the surface. Inventory label on surface is worn and tearing.