North America, Western United States, South Dakota, Scenic, Brule Formation, Oligocene, ca. 33 million years ago. A fossilized shell from the prehistoric tortoise, Stylemys nebraskensis! The carapace- the upper domed part of the shell, and the plastron or underside, are both preserved, and the interior is infilled with the sediment from fossilization and a protective plaster. Their genus name means "pillar turtle" and they were an herbivorous terrestrial species thriving in temperate to subtropic climates and could reach up to a meter in length. While these ancient tortoises could not burrow due to their forelimb structure, they likely led a very similar life to their 3 modern day descendants: desert tortoise, Texas tortoise, and gopher tortoise. This shell is a hefty 41.4 lb. (18.7 kg) and its survival certainly demonstrates the defensive evolution of turtle bodies! Size: 13" L x 9.5" W x 8" H (33 cm x 24.1 cm x 20.3 cm) Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #172118