17.5" Fossil Orthoceras & Goniatite Oval Plate - Stoneware

This is a beautiful stoneware serving platter made out of polished rock containing 400 million year old fossils of a straight cephalopod, Orthoceras regulare and Goniatites. The fossiliferous rock is quarried in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and handcrafted into this beautiful stoneware. Each piece is one of a kind and have there own unique appearance making no two pieces the same. These would make for interesting serving trays or can be used for decorative purposes.

Please note: These plates are probably not dishwasher or microwave safe.

The fossils commonly known as Orthoceras are extinct "straight" cephalopods that lived during the Upper Devonian period around 370 million years ago. Like other cephalopods, they lived inside of their shells, had tentacles they could use to grab food, and used jet propulsion, squirting water to move. The rock containing them is quarried from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and frequently polished to reveal the fossils and make decorative items with them.



While Orthoceras is the common name for these cephalopods, there are actually several different genera, including Michelinoceras and Arionoceras, found in association. However, unless you are one of the world's leading experts on fossil cephalopods, you probably won't be able to tell them apart.

Goniatites possessed a shell divided internally into chambers filled with gas for buoyancy. An open chamber at the front of the shell provided living space for the animal. The general morphology and habit of goniatites was probably similar to that of their later relatives the ammonites: they swam freely and possessed heads with two well developed eyes and arms.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Arionoceratid Nautiloid
LOCATION
Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco
SIZE
17.5 x 11.7"
ITEM
#133581
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