Kem Kem skull element/thing

[Aurelius]

I recently purchased this item. It was described as a piece of dinosaur skull. I never trust these IDs of course, but on the other hand, I didn't know what it was. Crucially, it was affordable, so I bought it anyway. It has arrived today and is quite impressive, in its way. 

 

The question is; what is it?

 

This is the main boney face of it. The other side is pure matrix with no shape or distinguishing features, so I didn't photograph it. Note the bone protruding from the bottom. This thing needs a LOT of prep.

 

 

The bone has a strange honeycomb structure, full of large empty pits.

 

 

 

 

This next bit (also seen at the bottom of the picture above) interests me, because it appears to be identical to the substance I asked for help with here: 

 

 

It is literally right up against the bone, on the left. MYSTERIOUS!

 

If anybody has any ideas what this object might be, I'd love to hear them. 

 

So far I've narrowed it down to:

1. Crocodile (that's what I associate any honeycomb style stuff with, rightly or wrongly)
2. Dinosaur
3. Elemental kaiju summoned to save the earth during time of strife
4. Extremely big fish

 

Thank you!

 

 

[LordTrilobite]

I agree that it's likely skull due to the honeycomb structures. I wouldn't rule out fish at this point. So large fish or reptile. Other than that, I can't draw any conclusions from this at this point. It needs cleaning.

 

4 hours ago, Aurelius said:

It is literally right up against the bone, on the left. MYSTERIOUS!

I don't see what you mean. I only see bone and matrix here, nothing mysterious.

[Haravex]

Ah this is interesting I have a piece I asked about a while back that has the same structure which I was spoken to about and it was noted that the same structure is normally found in mammals. However no mammals this large have been known or found in the kem kem beds.

[Aurelius]

1 hour ago, LordTrilobite said:

I agree that it's likely skull due to the honeycomb structures. I wouldn't rule out fish at this point. So large fish or reptile. Other than that, I can't draw any conclusions from this at this point. It needs cleaning.

 

I don't see what you mean. I only see bone and matrix here, nothing mysterious.

 

Well, compare these two images:

 

 

 

That stuff is the same, I'd stake my reputation upon it. And yet, the first lot of stuff (part of a very large 'sheet' of it) was thought by several people be some sort of geological substance.

[Aurelius]

1 hour ago, Haravex said:

Ah this is interesting I have a piece I asked about a while back that has the same structure which I was spoken to about and it was noted that the same structure is normally found in mammals. However no mammals this large have been known or found in the kem kem beds.

 

A mammal skull would be just about the last thing I'd expect to find in Kem Kem It does have a bit of a fishy vibe, but I'll prep it when I can get into the workshop and perhaps things will become clearer.

[LordTrilobite]

8 hours ago, Aurelius said:

Well, compare these two images:

That stuff is the same, I'd stake my reputation upon it. And yet, the first lot of stuff (part of a very large 'sheet' of it) was thought by several people be some sort of geological substance.

Nah, that's bone.

[Flx]

Probably it is a fragment of a sauropod bone. some of these can be very spongy inside. 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232688011_The_evolution_of_vertebral_pneumacity_in_sauropod_dinosaurs