This looks like a fossilized skull to me..any thoughts?

[Redbearded812]

Any thoughts on this?? I found in Indiana In a creek embankment surrounded by thick blue mud/clay. Thank u

Edited April 26, 2022 by Redbearded812

[fossilhunter21]

I am sorry, but this is geological.  

 

-Micah

[Troodon]

Skulls are typically made up of multiple elements, not solid and are symmetrical.  Not seeing any of that, its geologic.   A visit to a museum might help.

[digit]

Looks like--yes, actually represents--no.

 

As mentioned above there are none of the key features that would indicate an actual fossilized skull. Actual fossilized skulls (quite rare among fossils) are virtually never found alone separated from surrounding matrix. Any images of fossil skulls you see online have been painstakingly removed from surrounding matrix in which they were found. This gives the impression that these objects were found in this finished state. This internet image search shows how skulls are actually found:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=fossil+skulls+in+matrix&tbm=isch

 

What you believe you are seeing (and we can all see the features you are noticing) is a result of an interesting phenomenon called 'pareidolia' which is the result of our pattern-matching brains recognizing familiar shapes from random input. The faint circle and line in an object pointed on one end are suggesting a beak-shaped skull but it is nothing more than a suggestive rock.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=pareidolia&tbm=isch

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia

 

It's important to know what real fossils look like and equally important to recognize the "fakers" that we all end up picking up to inspect that do not represent actual fossils. We've even devoted an entire topic to these look-alike rocks:

 

http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/90731-pseudofossils-pareidolia-and-other-rorschachery/

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

[Redbearded812]

36 minutes ago, digit said:

Looks like--yes, actually represents--no.

 

As mentioned above there are none of the key features that would indicate an actual fossilized skull. Actual fossilized skulls (quite rare among fossils) are virtually never found alone separated from surrounding matrix. Any images of fossil skulls you see online have been painstakingly removed from surrounding matrix in which they were found. This gives the impression that these objects were found in this finished state. This internet image search shows how skulls are actually found:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=fossil+skulls+in+matrix&tbm=isch

 

What you believe you are seeing (and we can all see the features you are noticing) is a result of an interesting phenomenon called 'pareidolia' which is the result of our pattern-matching brains recognizing familiar shapes from random input. The faint circle and line in an object pointed on one end are suggesting a beak-shaped skull but it is nothing more than a suggestive rock.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=pareidolia&tbm=isch

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia

 

It's important to know what real fossils look like and equally important to recognize the "fakers" that we all end up picking up to inspect that do not represent actual fossils. We've even devoted an entire topic to these look-alike rocks:

 

http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/90731-pseudofossils-pareidolia-and-other-rorschachery/

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

Thanks ken

 

[digit]

We see new members with curious rocks on an almost daily basis so you are in good company and we are used to educating new comers to what fossils are (and are not). Our innate pareidolia combined with a lot of unusual shaped rocks provide a continuous stream of questions to those new to fossil hunting. You might enjoy looking through that topic link above on the wonderful diversity of rocks that try to fake us into believing they are something they are not. Most fossil hunters have a small collection of these 'pseudofossils' that were amusing enough to pick up and take home.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken