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Limestone molds of bivalve molluscs discovered in the Dammam Formation
© Qatar Museums
Arabia Separates from Africa (Eocene)
Object Name: Marine Bivalve
Period: Arabia Separates from Africa (Eocene)
Date: 55–30 Million Years Ago
Dimensions: 2.76 cm (H) x 4.5 cm (W) x 3.96 cm (D) 57 g
Medium: fossil
Registration Number: ARC.2008.10.291
Place Of Discovery/Findspot:  Ras Brouq Peninsula
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These limestone casts are fossilized imprints or molds of the shells of bivalve molluscs. Bivalves are a type of mollusk that have two shells hinged together, such as clams and oysters. These fossils are commonly found in the Miocene-aged Dammam Formation in Qatar and can provide valuable information about the ancient marine environments in which they lived.
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.
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Ras Brouq Peninsula
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