Id help! I’m not sure if this in an animal skull or just a rock

[jwestbury]

I have this piece from Central Indiana (Generally the Mississippian or Tertiary/Quatemary). What I find fascinating is that it appears to be a nasal cavity.   I’m not sure if it’s coincidence or something of actual interest. I took quite a few pictures some with stronger flash so you can see the difference in the different light.

[Fin Lover]

I don't see any bone texture, symmetry, or other evidence that this is a skull. 

[Fossildude19]

Looks more geologic in origin to me. Quartz or quartzite.

[doushantuo]

NOT a skull

e,g,:

orange ellipse: rugose structure/surface of bone

dark grey arrows: foramina

pink vertical line: symmetry axis

thick blue arrow pointing at suture

image from broom's monograph on South african cynodontia/1911

alterations mine

Edited April 10, 2023 by doushantuo

[Mahnmut]

Hello,

yes, that cavity resembles nasal openings. But I have to agree that this is coincidence, because no other part of that rock shows any indication of being a skull, or being the kind of rock to typically preserve bone fossils.

Could have been an impression of another real fossil like a mussel, but  looking at the kind of rock its more likely it is just coincidence

There are so many peculiar structures created by erosion, some of them are bound to look like other things.

Best Regards,

J

 

[Anomaly]

i don't think this is a skull, just a weirdly shaped hole. it doesn't have the right shape and is too solid.

[ClearLake]

Definitely not a skull, but the hole could be where a bivalve or brachiopod once was that has since weathered out.  Or could just be a oddly shaped void.