Central Asia, Anatolia, southwestern Turkey, Pleistocene era, ca. 100,000 years ago. A fossilized crab, Potamon potamios, also known as the freshwater Levantine crab, preserved in a textured travertine matrix. The crab is captured in a naturalistic burrowing posture, with sediment rising behind and steeply in front, suggesting a moment of active concealment within its environment, though it may alternatively represent a molted exoskeleton rather than the animal itself. The softly toned calcified surface and granular formations enhance the sense of preservation, and the piece is mounted within a modern acrylic display case with a removable lid. Size of fossil matrix: 4.25" L x 3" W x 2.2" H (10.8 cm x 7.6 cm x 5.6 cm); acrylic case: 6.75" L x 4.5" W x 3.5" H (17.1 cm x 11.4 cm x 8.9 cm)

Provenance: private Texas, USA Collection

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Item # 201924

  • Condition: Excellent. Choice. No repairs visible. The fossil is well preserved with the crab form clearly visible, including the carapace and limbs. Some limb segments are missing, which is not unusual if this represents a shed exoskeleton. The specimen remains structurally sound and displays well within its modern acrylic case.

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by Artemis Fine Arts
June 25, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Artemis Fine Arts

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