Description:

North America, late Cretaceous Period, ca. 68 to 66 million years ago. Wow! A very rare fossilized section of a brown frill from a triceratops (Triceratops horridus), one of the most famous dinosaurs. First found just west of Denver, Colorado, in the town of Morrison, in 1887, by Arthur Lakes and named by Othniel Charles Marsh, these large horned animals were initially mistaken for a form of bison before they realized they represented a type of dinosaur known as a Ceratopsian. The triceratops skull was heavy and distinctive: with three horns, a parrot-like beak, and a frill that could reach three feet wide, it was one of the largest skulls known from any land animal. This particular animal died at a young age - probably under one year old - and was found in the same bone bed as was the juvenile Triceratops jaw bone, also available in this sale. This example is the right squamosal shield panel. Size: 9.75" W x 19.5" H (24.8 cm x 49.5 cm); 22.5" H (57.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Interestingly, most horned animals travel in herds, but triceratops has been found more frequently in individual contexts. Puncture marks on the fossil frills of males of the species shown that they used their horns to fight each other, with some paleontologists believing that this was done to impress females.

Provenance: Private Berthoud, Colorado, USA collection found in Montana on private land

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#181713

  • Condition: Rebuilt from several sections as is normal, small section of top missing.

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January 18, 2024 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000