1
Large fossils with embedded single-celled organisms collected from the Dammam Formation
© Qatar National Museum
Arabia Separates from Africa (Eocene)
Object Name: Nummulite
Period: Arabia Separates from Africa (Eocene)
Date: 55–30 Million Years Ago
Provenance: Gift - 24/4/13 - Taylor, Norman
Dimensions: 37 mm (H) x 95 mm (W) x 50 mm (D) 137.3 g (Wt)
Medium: fossil
Registration Number: QNM.2013.88.302
Place Of Discovery/Findspot:  Dammam Formation
2
The objects are gypsum rock with fossilized forams, which are unicellular organisms, embedded in. The specimen was found in a rock deposition known as Dammam Formation forged during the Middle Eocene period, around 40 million years ago.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT QATAR
At the beginning of this period, Qatar was covered by shallow tropical waters. Sea turtles, marine crocodiles and dugongs all lived here.
Later, the Qatar peninsula gradually rose above sea level. The climate was much more humid than today, and Qatar was covered by grasslands and rivers. Ancient species of freshwater crocodiles, ostriches, elephants and giraffes walked the land.
LOCATE ON QATAR MAP
Dammam Formation
locate in museum map
Gallery 1