mummified petrified skull of a ?

[boomer46901]

I found this mummified or petrified skull in dirt dredged from a ditch in central Indiana. It is solid rock. It is about the size of a half dollar coin. You can see the eye sockets, nasal cavity, and teeth on one side. the teeth have turned to crystal. Do you know what this is or the age of it? Any questions?

 

[TreasureTales]

More pix would definitely help us out. It would be so great if a professional palentologist or some other expert could positively ID this thing.

 

[Montana Jim]

Well... a good mystery indeed!

In case this ends up being a skull, I'm lodging my vote for:

Young, underdeveloped, or partial skull from a otter, mink, fisher, ferret, or badger.

 

[Blind.In.Texas]

Well... a good mystery indeed!

In case this ends up being a skull, I'm lodging my vote for:

Young, underdeveloped, or partial skull from a otter, mink, fisher, ferret, or badger.

I am voting for a rock. GL and keep us posted!

 

[DCMatt]

I'm not convinced it's a skull, either. Any indication that it was carved to look like a skull?

DCMatt

 

[bogeymcq]

Curious . . very very curious


Not sure if this will be much help or not


http://www.d91.k12.id.us/skyline/teachers/robertsd/skulls.htm


I haven't had much of chance to look at the variety they have listed yet. . but . . well


Bogart

 

[lumbercamp]

Turtle teeth are as scarce as chicken teeth. Neither specie has any.

 

[RON (PA)]

I don't know what it is. I don't think it is a skull. It may be a carving to resemble a skull. I would take it to a museum and have them look at it just to make sure.

 

[Peg Leg]

I suggest that you have it X-Rayed just to have a better point of view.
As we all know things were quite different a few million years ago.
Great find.
I also believe it is a skull.
Peg Leg

 

[bakergeol]

You see the teeth look like a shell of a "Straight cephalopod". The other straight cavities could have been where other cephalopods were eroded away. Here what they look like.

http://drydredgers.org/trip200503p3.htm

P.S. No "Gay" Cephalopod jokes
George

 

[Angelo]

Here's a couple of skulls.

Fossils

A dog and a rabbit.

 

[hntsjnk]

I agree with others about it being a rock with some holes and cephalopod remains. The "nose" hole is a dead giveaway because skulls don't have round nasal cavities, always a two-holer look, or divided. Very small critters have very small nasal passages. Not being hateful here, just my opinion, been a rockhound and fossil collector a long tme. Still, it should clean up nice, a little work with a dremel tool and you got one heck of a conversation piece for the coffee shop.

 

[silverswede]

From the completely unlettered I like Angelos Wyoming rabbit. Knock that guys four front teeth out and he'd kinda look like an ancestor anyway.

 

[Monty]

Looks similar to a ground squirrel skull to me. I looked a that collection of skulls and it now looks more like a bat to me because there are no identifiable k9 teeth or fangs. Monty

 

[boomer46901]

Here are some more pics. The other side isn't as clear, but does display the same general feature. I think it more of a mummified head prior to fossilizing. thaty would explain the crushed shape. ANyway, its a good mystery. tahnks for all the chatter.

 

[boomer46901]

right side

 

[boomer46901]

bottom

 

[boomer46901]

back........

 

[99Brown]

Not sure, but to me, looks more like a rock....but, what do I know? Good luck finding the answer!

 

[TreasureTales]

Not sure, but to me, looks more like a rock....but, what do I know? Good luck finding the answer!

With the additional photos, I tend to agree with this assessment. It's a (weird) rock. Bummer.

 

[Libralabsoldier]

You need to get to your nearest college and find a biology, paleontology or geology professor.

My assessment is that it has some characteristics of a fossilized skull, but without holding it, and examining it closely, I couldnt tell you.

IF it is, it is definately mammalian.