Mined from: Hell's Creek, Montana, USA

Era: Upper Cretaceous
Geological Age: Approximately 66 to 68 mya

Description: This fossilized fig, Spinifructus antiquus, is an exceptional botanical relic from the Hell Creek Formation in Montana. Though modest in size, the fossil preserves remarkable detail, showcasing the fig’s original form with subtle ridges and contours locked into sedimentary stone. Typically gray-brown in hue, these fossils serve as quiet yet profound reminders of the diverse plant life that thrived during the twilight of the dinosaur era.

Dating back approximately 66 to 68 million years, this specimen hails from the Upper Cretaceous period—a time of major evolutionary transitions in both flora and fauna. Spinifructus antiquus is one of the few identified fossil fig species from this epoch, offering rare insight into prehistoric angiosperms. The Hell Creek Formation, famous for yielding Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and other Late Cretaceous creatures, also preserves a rich and often underappreciated record of ancient plant life. This fig would have grown in lush, subtropical environments alongside palms, ferns, and other flowering plants, contributing to the complex food web of the time.

Plant fossils from Hell Creek are significantly less common than vertebrate specimens, making this a meaningful addition for paleobotany enthusiasts and serious collectors. Its scientific relevance lies not just in its age, but in what it reveals about Earth’s final moments before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction—an organic time capsule frozen in stone.

Approximate Size of 1 piece: 3.5cm x 2.5cm x 2cm
Approximate Weight of 1 piece: 20g

Quantity: 1pc

We do our best to buy quality products- although not every rock is the same. If you choose to purchase the "staff pick option", we will select the best of the batch for you. Otherwise, it will be at random from the larger batch we have in stock.