Indonesian Stone Fossilized Shell

A spiral of grey stone, with ridges and little cracks where the coils meet.

This fossilized shell comes from Sulawesi, Indonesia, and is stone. Coiled fossil shells are usually the remains of ancient marine animals, their original material slowly replaced by minerals. Here a broad ridged outer whorl wraps around a smaller one, which winds into a tight center. The surface is a mix of dark grey and soft tan, with pale chalky patches along the edges. It is 7 inches wide and 7 high.

It spiraled inward long before anyone was watching.