250 million years ago, Morocco was covered by a vast sea called the Tethys Sea. The presence of a large body of salt water left massive deposits of fossilized creatures embedded in the rock. In the area around Rissani, Morocco, massive deposits of fossilized animals have been discovered. These deposits are being mined for the visual and textural appeal of the rock.
During the Devonian Era, which stretched somewhere from 420 million and 360 million years ago, the Sahara region was home to crab-like creatures called trilobites. They were numerous species of trilobites, but the dominant trilobite found in Morocco is called Gerastos Granulosus. Other creatures commonly found in the Rissani deposits include amonoids (which are related to squid, although they look like giant snails) and orthoceras (also similar to a squid with a tubular body more reminiscent of modern squid) and crinoids (which have a plant-like appearance). Selenite and geodes are also commonly sold in this region.
Artisans carefully craft the stone into beautiful designs that may become countertops, sinks or tables. They are sometimes able to discover full trilobites or amonoids, carefully removing surrounding material to expose the fossilized animal. We were treated to a demonstration on how workers cut stone or carefully craft three-dimensional pieces. The tools vary from gentle buffing equipment, router-like drills and large slab-cutting equipment. Cutting these stones is an art form. You cannot possibly know where the best cut is going to be, particularly with such varied sizes of animals lurking within the stone. Capturing as much of the intact outer shell of the creatures as possible, particularly the larger fossils, is a challenge that they seem to have mastered.
After learning the history of the fossil mines and the process for cutting and creating the amazing pieces, we were given additional information inside the showroom. We learned more about the individual fossils common to the area and were treated to examples of some amazing examples of the fossilized animals. I was particularly impressed with the three-dimensional sinks and tables. The amazing combination of craftsmanship and nature resulted in beautiful, expensive, functional works of art. Many of the most attractive pieces cost more than my vacation. Needless to say, I settled for some small fossilized pendants, a fossil plate, some soap dishes, a trilobite and some sharks teeth. Those items weren't necessarily cheap, but they were affordable. It is amazing to me that the abundance of fossils make them so attainable for the average person.
I have a few more images of the shop we visited that I can share. Enjoy.
All photos are my own. They may be used with prior permission.