Featured in this lot is this large, nicely preserved Goniatite Ammonite fossil This ancient creature swam in tropical oceans during the Devonian, about 400 million years ago. Ammonites belong to the cephalopod class, cousins of the present squid and octopus. Goniatite ammonites were named after their wavy suture lines that decorate the out shell in beautiful patterns. These sutures outline the chambers or septa that were used for regulating buoyancy allowing the animas to quickly change depths in the ocean. In Medieval Europe Ammonites were thought to be petrified snakes. They were called "snakestones" or "serpent stones". Ammonites were said to be evidence for the actions of St. Hilda and St. Patrick - who drove the snakes out of Ireland. In ancient times, traders would carve the face of a snake into the wide end of the ammonite fossil and sell them to the public. The fossil is un-cleaned and unpolished but shows a great shape. The majority of the color is white but the fossil shows spots of brown, gray, black and tan. The piece shows good condition overall with no signs of obvious damage present. The piece measures 5 3/8" L x 4 3/8" W x 2 3/8" H and weighs 1 pound and 14 ounces.

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