Prehistoric Alligator?

[RDCLL17]

I recently did some work for someone In  the coal mining industry in Southwest Virginia/Appalachian Mtns.I noticed they had some fossils and they let me have some of them. Most of them were fossilized trees/fauna and such. But these right here stood out and was curious  as to what they was.

 

I'm no paleontologist but my impression it is some type of alligator. It was found near one of the coal mines on a mountain. There are a couple of other bones as well. I apologize if the quality of some of the pictures isn't the best, we're currently having lighting issues in my shop. Thank you for your time.

 

 

 

 

[Fossildude19]

Sorry, no fossils here.

These appear to be mostly concretions.

 

Correction - Photo 11 shows what appears to be a tree trunk cast.

Photo 16 shows 2 Stigmaria root fossils, the trunk, and what appears to be Sigillaria bark.

 

 

 

That would make the area Carboniferous in age, and therefore too old for crocodile/alligator fossils.

[RDCLL17]

<I'll have to respectfullyk9*j disagree for the time being. If you flip over the skull you can see it's upper jaw cavity. Hopefully in the next few weeks a trip to Gray, TN will clarify. Thank you for your time

[Gareth_]

On 11/19/2021 at 11:56 PM, RDCLL17 said:

I'm no paleontologist but my impression it is some type of alligator

 

 

On 11/20/2021 at 1:14 AM, Fossildude19 said:

Sorry, no fossils here.

These appear to be mostly concretions.

That would make the area Carboniferous in age, and therefore too old for crocodile/alligator fossils.

 

1 hour ago, RDCLL17 said:

<I'll have to respectfullyk9*j disagree for the time being.

People join TFF to gain knowledge, get questions answered etc so I really don't understand why people ask professionals and highly experienced amateurs  a question, get an answer they don't like and then disagree with them  Sure people have a right to their own (misguided) opinion, but why ask if you're already so certain you know the answer (correct or not).

@RDCLL17 with respect, some members on here have an unbelievable amount of experience and very little surprises them, I don't think a few concretions are a new sight 

[R0b]

2 hours ago, RDCLL17 said:

<I'll have to respectfullyk9*j disagree for the time being. If you flip over the skull you can see it's upper jaw cavity. Hopefully in the next few weeks a trip to Gray, TN will clarify. Thank you for your time

Search for septarian nodule, a type of concretion.

Edited November 21, 2021 by R0b

[Fossildude19]

6 hours ago, RDCLL17 said:

<I'll have to respectfully> disagree for the time being. If you flip over the skull you can see it's upper jaw cavity. Hopefully in the next few weeks a trip to Gray, TN will clarify. Thank you for your time

 

Please let us know what they tell you. 

So often, people will come here with similar items, and tell us they will go have it looked at, and never come back with what they were told.

This tends to make me believe they were disappointed with what they were told by universities or museums. 

[darrow]

9 hours ago, RDCLL17 said:

...If you flip over the skull you can see it's upper jaw cavity. 

For those of us who don't recognize the skull, would you indicate which one you are refring to? 

[jpc]

The folks at the Gray Fossil Site will tell you what are are fearing.  This is nothing close to an alligator/crocodile head.  They are indeed concretions.

[digit]

11 hours ago, RDCLL17 said:

<I'll have to respectfullyk9*j disagree for the time being. If you flip over the skull you can see it's upper jaw cavity. Hopefully in the next few weeks a trip to Gray, TN will clarify. Thank you for your time

And we will have to respectfully repeat that we are very certain what the majority of these actually are. Look at the image search in the link below and see what septarian concretions are (if you are honest with yourself you will recognize very similar rocks to yours).

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=septarian+concretion&tbm=isch

 

I agree the folks at the Gray Fossil Site will concur with what we are telling you--because we both understand what they are. We can bring together our many years of fossil experience to inform you of what we know these objects to be but we cannot force you to believe if you have already made your mind up about this. A certain saying about horses and water may apply here. I'm never quite sure what the motivation is to ask our opinion on the identity of a rock if you only want confirmation of a mistaken identity that we cannot provide.

 

We'd love to have you hang around and learn about fossils--they are fascinating clues to past life and we are passionate about learning all we can about them. If you don't have an open mind there is nothing we can do to help you learn about what are (and are not) fossils.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken