Fossil - Coprolite (Testudinata)

Fossil - Coprolite (Testudinata)

Eocene epoch, ca. 56.0-33.9 million years ago, Mahajanga, Madagascar.

Prehistoric sea turtle feces, or coprolite. A coprolite is fossilized feces. The word comes from the Greek words kopros (κοπρος), feces, and lithos (λιθος), stone. Coprolites can range in size from a few millimeters to ancient feces over 60 cm in size. Coprolite is an important source for paleontological, archaeological, and anthropological research, as it provides information about the diet of the organism that originally excreted the coprolite. The name "coprolite" was coined by the English paleontologist and geologist William Buckland, who first used the term in 1829.

Coprolites (as distinct from fossilized human feces, known as paleofeces) are fossilized animal dung. Like other fossils, the original composition of coprolites has been replaced by a variety of minerals. Ancient human feces (paleofeces), on the other hand, retain much of their original organic composition and are therefore easier to study for their chemical structure. However, the term "coprolite" is sometimes also used for human feces in archaeological studies. The pieces range in size from 40mm to 25mm.

Symbol meaning

Ritual use

Note! Fossils are natural products that are millions of years old, so each one is unique. Therefore, colors, shapes and brightness may vary. The condition varies from fair to good and they have the wear, cracks and small chips typical of fossils.