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Possible Fake Merycoidodon Culbertsoni Skull?


IlmareYavanna

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A few months ago, I purchased a Merycoidodon skull from a mineral dealer in Missouri. It consists of the left side of the skull, with the end of the nasal area missing. I now know that this dealer has at least one fake fossil for sale (a Keichusaurus) that he said was authentic. I'm pretty sure its not (looks too much like other fakes on the market, and the front limbs look very wrong).

My question is...how often, if at all, are Merycoidodon skulls falsified? If it helps, I could attach a photo when I get home.

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A photo would help, but faking mammal skulls (especially those which are plentiful) is not often done.

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

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It would be a lot of trouble for a small return on effort to produce a fossil that is fairly abundant. Pictures would help.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See

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Some repairs, a little restoration, but a genuine fossil.

FWIW, many of the wretched-looking Keichusaurs on the market are just suffering from assembly line preparation (high-speed rotary wire brushes) and ham-handed restoration of missing elements. While not really fakes, they are far from desirable.

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

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That has every appearance of a partial Merycoidodon culbertsoni skull/lower. On the extant side it is missing the zygomatic arch and the premaxilla. It can clean up a little more with gentle scraping with the side (not point) of a dental pick or carbide needle/pin vise. After that, gentle rubbing with an art gum eraser will clean it even more. Be careful with the pressure; I can't tell from the photo how well parts are supported by structure or matrix.

It's a nice piece, enjoy.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See

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Thank you so much! I will probably leave the skull as is, since it's not set in the base very well. My students would be really upset if it were damaged.

My main worry about the Keichusaurus is that it looks too pretty and perfect. Every bones is present, articulated, even down to the teeth that I can see. Call me paranoid, but I'd rather be sure it was real before I spend $450 on it.

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Thank you so much! I will probably leave the skull as is, since it's not set in the base very well. My students would be really upset if it were damaged.

My main worry about the Keichusaurus is that it looks too pretty and perfect. Every bones is present, articulated, even down to the teeth that I can see. Call me paranoid, but I'd rather be sure it was real before I spend $450 on it.

$450 is far too steep a price when compared to the asking on the many offered on eBay.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, also are remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. - Douglas Adams, Last Chance to See

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It is real with a bit of reconstruction... are you sying soemone wants 450 for this oreodont skull. That is a bit steep if you ask me. But then I ama cheapie.

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Although it is hard to tell from photographs, it looks like the oredont skull is a "chocolate" skull, which are rarer than the light colored ones, and more desired by collectors. It will likely fade if exposed to direct sunlight, so you'll want to avoid that.

The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence".

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