65 Million Years Ago Ammonites Were Abundant in the Prehistoric Oceans

65 Million years ago Ammonites were abundant in the prehistoric oceans. Theories suggest that the Ammonite was named after the Egyptian God Ammon who is depicted with ram horns and resembles the spiral coil of the Ammonite fossil shell. These squid-like invertebrates grew as large as 6 feet in diameter and it was actually the females that would grow up to 400 times larger than males. The history of the Ammonite fossils fascinates me, and the fossils that are found all around the world are one-of-a-kind as no two Ammonites are the same.

How an Ammonite Fossil is formed

Like all fossils, the process takes millions of years and it begins with the death of the Ammonite. It floats to the bottom of the ocean and as the body of the marine creature dissolves or is eaten by other sea creatures, the only thing left is the shell. Sand and silt begins to gradually cover the shell and ultimately protects it from deteriorating. And after thousands of years, the sand and dissolved minerals turn to rock. The ocean eventually recedes and the shell ends up on dry land. On land, the minerals form crystals inside the shell and erosion of the sand finally unveil the Ammonite Fossil.

Where I find Ammonite Fossils

I’m so Grateful to be able to travel to Morocco, where I purchase beautiful Ammonites in Erfoud, a small village in the Sahara Desert. In Moroccan villages, the culture is still very much the old way of life. There in the Sahara desert, they dig up the ammonites and ortho Sarris fossils, and they do all of the cleanings in preparation for it to come to the United States or other parts of the world. The beauty of seeing the golden, orange sand dunes are a site that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.

When I arrived they welcomed me in and showed me how they actually dug at the sites. All I saw was a small hole that had a ladder going down many, many feet. In fact, I dropped a stone in an old hole and I didn’t hear the stone land…OMG, it was a really deep hole. Berber Arabs have been digging for fossils for many, many generations and I was privileged to see them in action. They explained to me that those specific fossils were in the ground at sea level, and then there was a shift of the planet were the sea dried up and all of that area turned to desert. So when they are digging they are finding layers and layers of these ammonites.

Ammonite Beliefs

In the Medieval era the Ammonite was thought of to be a petrified coiled snake and was used for its medicinal properties while in places like Nepal, the Hindus believe it’s a manifestation of G-d in a concrete form. There’s just so many interesting ideas and stories about Ammonite Fossils. Many people, including me, see the Ammonite spirals as being infinite energy. Infinite energy is so important in business, and I suggest using Ammonites as a decor element, either mounted on the wall or smaller ones may be used as a paperweight. Ammonites in business bring in abundance and infinite wealth… yahoo. I personally have a natural ammonite in the entryway of my business, and I have opalized ammonites as paperweights. So I don’t just suggest it, I practice it.

When purchasing a piece of history, like minerals and fossils, it’s important to learn about where they came from and how it can help you in your life. Michal And Company are here to help you discover Natures Art Decor and the abundance that goes along with it.

DIY: Paleontologists use Ammonite Fossils to help date other fossils found in the same area.