RushRose Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Found this while rock hunting on the Rush River in Wisconsin. Brought it home thinking the cavities might be indication of an agate. After I cleaned it up all I could see was a skull. Is that possible? It was partially submerged in the river and measures about L10"xH5"xW4". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RushRose Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 The disappointing fact is: it is NOT a cranium Edit: only gorgonopsians have crania very remotely resembling this piece 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Welcome to the forum From what I can tell from this image, it looks more like a very water-eroded stone. There are some parts of this that do look "skull'esque," but mother nature does throw us a good share of rocks that resemble other things 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Welcome to the Forum. Sorry, but that is, as stated by Kane and Doushantuo, a water worn piece of rock. Possibly limestone. If you look at it from any other angle, I'm sure you would not see any symmetry, which, were it a skull, you should see. I see no sutures of skull plates, no mandible, no zygomatic arches,... No bone texture. Cool looking rock, but, ... just a rock. Regards, 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RushRose Posted May 15, 2017 Author Share Posted May 15, 2017 Fair enough. Thanks! Guess I'm finding faces in abstract shapes (as humans do) but some of the details are very convincing! I would have included more photos but my photo files are too large. Thanks again! For extra fun, here's a detail! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 but that's just it: the details are NOT convincing In vertebrate skulls,all the holes have significance ,mostly biomechanical(nares and orbits not,of course) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 That's a pretty neat shape. It would make a pretty cool candle holder! 1 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 the decorative value is indeed high Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Like I said, cool looking rock. I'd put candles on it, too. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 Sure is a freaky looking thing 1 Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 It is a very interesting sculpture (made by water in limestone). Mother Nature is gracious with us, but sometimes put our minds in difficulty. " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 That's one cool rock. John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleoExplorer Posted May 15, 2017 Share Posted May 15, 2017 That looks so neat! Welcome to the Forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opabinia Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 Looks like a case of Pareidolia! (common with me) Welcome! _._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._._. E.T. Hall - opabinia "If It Can be Written or Thought, It can be Filmed." - Stanley Kubrick Cambrian and Quaternary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnBrewer Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 19 hours ago, abyssunder said: It is a very interesting sculpture (made by water in limestone). Mother Nature is gracious with us, but sometimes put our minds in difficulty. And here's me thinking that was a selfie @abyssunder John Map of UK fossil sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abyssunder Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 What can I say now? .... " We are not separate and independent entities, but like links in a chain, and we could not by any means be what we are without those who went before us and showed us the way. " Thomas Mann My Library Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagurus Posted May 16, 2017 Share Posted May 16, 2017 It looks like something I'd bring home.I could see it on a pedestal at an art gallery, if made by a human. Ma nature is a heck of an artist. Start the day with a smile and get it over with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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