NUMMULITES - 'FOSSILS OF THE PYRAMIDS' - Giza, Egypt
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Fossils from the limestone that
built the Pyramids
Giza Plateau, Nile Valley, Egypt
These fossils, in a display box, are from the very limestone, known as Nummulitic limestone, that was used to construct the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Nummulites are part of a family of single-celled, mostly marine creatures called Foraminifera. They are usually far too small to see, but some species grew to a large size. Nummulites has a disc-shaped shell which is divided into chambers internally. Their fossils are very common in the Eocene limestones of Egypt.
It is said that the ancient Egyptians used these fossils as coins and the name Nummulites actually comes from the Latin word nummus, meaning coin - a reference to their shape. They also look as though they might once have been edible; a Greek historian in the fifth century BC is said to have been told by local people that these lentil-shaped stones were petrified food waste left by the labourers who built the pyramids.
These five fossils are presented in a glass-topped gemstone display box. They are from an old collection and were probably collected several decades ago.
Fossils from the limestone that
built the Pyramids
Giza Plateau, Nile Valley, Egypt
These fossils, in a display box, are from the very limestone, known as Nummulitic limestone, that was used to construct the Great Pyramids of Giza.
Nummulites are part of a family of single-celled, mostly marine creatures called Foraminifera. They are usually far too small to see, but some species grew to a large size. Nummulites has a disc-shaped shell which is divided into chambers internally. Their fossils are very common in the Eocene limestones of Egypt.
It is said that the ancient Egyptians used these fossils as coins and the name Nummulites actually comes from the Latin word nummus, meaning coin - a reference to their shape. They also look as though they might once have been edible; a Greek historian in the fifth century BC is said to have been told by local people that these lentil-shaped stones were petrified food waste left by the labourers who built the pyramids.
These five fossils are presented in a glass-topped gemstone display box. They are from an old collection and were probably collected several decades ago.
Click on a picture for a larger image
Size: 5 x 5 x 2 centimetres (size of box)
Weight: 30 grams (weight of box)
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