North America, late Cretaceous Period, ca. 68 to 66 million years ago. Wow! An incredible fossilized frill from a triceratops (Triceratops horridus), one of the most famous dinosaurs. First found just west of Denver, Colorado, in the town of Morrison, in 1887, by Arthur Lakes and named by Othniel Charles Marsh, these large horned animals were initially mistaken for a form of bison before they realized they represented a type of dinosaur known as a Ceratopsian. The triceratops skull was heavy and distinctive: with three horns, a parrot-like beak, and a massive frill like this one, it was one of the largest skulls known from any land animal. Size: 32.25" W x 17" H (81.9 cm x 43.2 cm); 0.5" H (1.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Interestingly, most horned animals travel in herds, but triceratops has been found more frequently in individual contexts. Puncture marks on the fossil frills of males of the species shown that they used their horns to fight each other, with some paleontologists believing that this was done to impress females. Finds of blood vessels throughout the horns and frills of these animals suggest that they were not just weapons, but were also used for identification of individuals, much like the antlers and horns of modern species like reindeer and mountain goats. Scientists also believe that a thick layer of keratin similar to our fingernails would have covered the tips of the frill in life, making it even larger than what you see here!

Provenance: private J.H. collection, Beaverton, Oregon, USA

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#149602

Expertly repaired and restored from multiple pieces. Small losses from peripheries. Stabilizing coat has been applied to the surface.