Longest fossilised poop to fetch USD 10,000 at auction

Image
Press Trust of India Los Angeles
Last Updated : Jul 20 2014 | 1:25 PM IST
The longest piece of fossilised dung ever found - which measures 40 inches in length - is expected to fetch up to USD 10,000 at an auction in California.
The fossil believed to be the longest known specimen of ancient excrement could be up to 33 million years old, according to a gallery in Beverly Hills, which is auctioning off the specimen next week.
The coprolite is expected to fetch between USD 8,000 and USD 10,000, 'Live Science' reported.
According to the auctioneers, the coprolite has "a wonderfully even, pale brown-yellow colouring and terrifically detailed texture to the heavily botryoidal surface across the whole of its immense length."
A "botryoidal" surface is one with a lumpy texture.
The seller found and dug up the fossilised feces in 2012, on private land in Toledo, Washington, said Jake Chait, natural history director of IM Chait Gallery.
Chait and his colleagues said they don't know what kind of creature left the load, which has been separated into four pieces and mounted on black marble.
This is not the first time ancient poop has gone under the hammer.
In 2008, Bonhams New York sold a 130-million-year old pile of dinosaur dung for nearly USD 1,000. Chait said he's sold much smaller coprolites for around USD 6,000.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jul 20 2014 | 1:25 PM IST

Next Story