Fossilised Shark Tooth

$183.24

A large, fossilised shark tooth from the Neogene period. The triangular shark’s tooth includes natural indentations and striations formed from the fossilisation process. The tooth also displays beautiful white, brown and cream marbling.

Date: 20 million years old
Provenance: From a Surrey gentleman's collection (DG), purchased on the London Art Market from an ADA member, formed 1990's onward.
Condition: Excellent condition.

SOLD

SKU: AF-06 Category:

Sharks have inhabited the world’s waters for 400 million years. A remarkable thought, given the fine preservation of their teeth in fossil form to this day. For these impressive remnants of pre-history we have to thank sandy sediment, which covered the teeth after the death of the shark, thereby preventing oxygen and destructive bacteria from reaching them. The fossilisation process then took place over a course of 10,000 years, as minerals in the sediment gradually replaced each tooth’s original dentine and enamel.

Fossilised teeth form the vast majority of shark fossils found. This is largely due to two reasons; firstly, their teeth are formed from dentine, which is a substance harder than bone. The strength of the material allows the tooth to fossilise. Secondly, sharks produce vast amounts of teeth over their lifetime, continuously producing as they lose. Over a lifetime, a shark could produce between 20,000 – 40,000 teeth.

Weight 157 g
Dimensions L 8.8 x W 7.3 cm
Material

Time Period