| AMMONITE FOSSILS |
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The term ammonite refers to an extinct group of cephalopods (predatory
marine animals) similar to the modern squid, octopus and chambered nautilus.
These creatures, along with the dinosaurs, died out at the close of the
Cretaceous period, about 65 million years ago. Their time on earth lasted about
330 million years.
Noted by humankind since bibical times, they were first called 'Ammon's
Stones', due to their resemblance to the ram's horns of Ammon, the ancient
Egyptian god of life and procreation. Rarer than diamonds, they have been
collected and prized for thousands of years. It wasn't until the late 1700's that
these 'rocks' were recognized as the remains of once living organisms.
marine animals) similar to the modern squid, octopus and chambered nautilus.
These creatures, along with the dinosaurs, died out at the close of the
Cretaceous period, about 65 million years ago. Their time on earth lasted about
330 million years.
Noted by humankind since bibical times, they were first called 'Ammon's
Stones', due to their resemblance to the ram's horns of Ammon, the ancient
Egyptian god of life and procreation. Rarer than diamonds, they have been
collected and prized for thousands of years. It wasn't until the late 1700's that
these 'rocks' were recognized as the remains of once living organisms.