1
Four skeletons of sand dollars discovered in the Barwa Financial District
© National Museum of Qatar
Arabia Separates from Africa (Eocene)
Object Name: Sand Dollars (Sea Urchins)
Period: Arabia Separates from Africa (Eocene)
Date: 55–30 Million Years Ago
Provenance: Gift from Taylor Norman, 24/4/13
Dimensions: 78 mm (W) x 86 mm (D)
Medium: fossil
Registration Number: QNM.2013.88.256
Place Of Discovery/Findspot:  Barwa Financial District
2
This is a collection of fossilized sand dollars, fascinating marine invertebrates renowned for their distinctive spiny skin. These remarkable creatures are classified under the phylum Echinoderm.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT QATAR
During this era, The Arabian Plate began to separate from the African Plate and moved gradually towards the Eurasian Plate.

The Arabian Gulf and the Zagros Mountains formed as a result of the Arabian and Eurasian Plates colliding. Qatar was home to a range of marine species. Fossils of ancient plants and animals from this time have been discovered, including sea urchins, sharks, sawfish and dugongs.
LOCATE ON QATAR MAP
Barwa Financial District
locate in museum map
Gallery 1