EXTREMELY RARE DOUBLE FOSSIL PALM FROND

EXTREMELY RARE DOUBLE FOSSIL PALM FROND

Sabalites sp., Priscacara serrata

Lower Eocene

Green River Formation, Wyoming, USA

Measuring 80 1/8 x 71 1/4 x 3 inches (203.5 x 181 x 7.6 cm).

The Green River Formation, in Utah and Wyoming, is one of the most important fossil sites for understanding the Eocene epoch that began about 55 million years ago. The fossils, especially plants, found at this site indicate that the climate was moist temperate or sub-tropical. The superb limestone deposits of the Fossil Lake area in Lincoln County, Wyoming, are one of the few places in the world where fallen flora was buried quickly enough by silt and mud to preserve the softer material. As such, Green River palms represent some of the largest fossilized leaves ever found but are extremely rare. Rarer still are complete specimens of enormous size such as the present specimen. In addition, this natural fossil mural boasts two extraordinary palm fronds, complete with stems. This is one of only three known examples of a natural double palm frond plate, and the present example is by far the largest and most complete.

PROVENANCE

Private Florida collection from 2004 till the present.

Discovered and prepared by: Warfield Fossil Quarry in 2003