27" Fossil Fish Wall Mounted Plate - Wyoming

This is a very displayable fossil fish "mural" from the Green River Formation of Wyoming. It measures 27x23" and there are three very detailed fossil fish on the slab of rock. There are two large Diplomystus dentatus, the larger one being 16 1/2" long, along with an elegant Cockerellites (Priscacara) liops. One of the Diplomystus and the Cockerellites have been inlaid into the slab for display purposes, but otherwise there is no restoration or painting to the fish. The rock has been backed with wood and wall mounting hardware installed.

Fossil fish from the 18 inch layer split out "ghosted" underneath the surface of the rock. Typically only bumps from the back bone can be seen in faint relief against the surface of the rock. Because of this they typically collect this layer at night using high powered lighting which allow them to better see the shadows from these bumps on the rock. These fish must then be prepared removing all of the matrix from on top of them, a very meticulous and time consuming process.

The lake itself is known as "Fossil Lake" and it existed 50 million years ago in what is now Wyoming and is believed to have covered approximately 930 square miles. It had an unusual chemistry that inhibited the decay and scavenging of dead organisms while think layers of limestone and organic matter accumulated. This special set of circumstances has lead to the beautiful preservation of fish and other fossils within the Green River Formation.