The product is a polished orthoceras plaque from Morocco, measuring between 7.5-10 inches in length. This fossilised plaque is a unique and decorative item that showcases the ancient history of the region. Its polished finish adds a smooth and shiny appearance, making it a visually appealing piece for collectors or those interested in natural history.
Orthoceras, from Ancient Greek ὀρθός (orthós), meaning "straight", and κέρας (kéras), meaning "horn", is a genus of extinct nautiloid cephalopod restricted to Middle Ordovician-aged marine limestones of the Baltic States and Sweden. This genus is sometimes called Orthoceratites and misspelled as Orthocera, Orthocerus, or Orthoceros.
Orthoceras (“straight horn”) is an extinct squid-like mollusk from the Ordovician period, about 450 million years ago. The creature lived in the last open segment on the wide end of the shell, and ranged from 1 cm to 6 ft long approx. As the body outgrew the segment, a dividing wall, called the septa, grew to separate the old home segment from the new. A small tube, the siphuncle, runs down the center of the shell and was used for propulsion and buoyancy. These fossils are found in the Atlas Mountains of the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
Location (area found): Morocco
Weight approx: 2.479KG
Measurement Approx: