Lot 828
20" Long Lower Jaw of Duckbill Dinosaur From Wyoming. Dinosaur bones were only preserved under extraordinary conditions. The dinosaur needed to be buried relatively quickly after death for the bones to survive for millions of years. Rapid burial in water where sand and sediment would cover the bones was the most common type of preservation. Even with this condition, most of the bones of a dinosaur were washed away, leaving only isolated bones to be dug up many millions of years later.
Much of the western U.S. was covered by a large shallow sea 70 million years ago when this large Hadrosaur dinosaur, Edmontosaurus annectens, died and was swept into the shallow water. The skeleton was disarticulated and some parts were fossilized. Discovered in Niobrara County, Wyoming more than 20 years ago, this huge 20" long x 10" high lower jaw (Mandible) is virtually complete except that no teeth are visible. It is possible that some of the teeth are still buried underneath the limestone matrix. Unlike mammal jaws, dinosaurs had three bones comprising their jaw with a connecting bone at the back of the Mandible and a predentary bone in front of it. This spectacular Hadrosaur jaw still sits on its natural limestone base for display. Edmontoraurus dinosaurs traveled in herds and were a favorite dinner item of the mighty T-Rex, whose stomach contents have been found to contain Edmontosaurus bones. The bone is an attractive dark brown color and is virtually as found, with only minor repairs done to smooth out some inevitable cracks in the 70-million-year-old bone. Add $40 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500.
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