This pendant contains a fossilized Dendraster gibbisii, a sand dollar species from the Pliocene Epoch deposits (c. 5,000,000 years old) in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. It is a remnant of a time when the valley was home to an inland sea seated between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the California Coast Ranges.

The dendraster fossil is set into a sterling silver bezel backing and comes with an 18" chain. The necklace is packaged in a padded black box and ships with a small information card that serves as certificate of authenticty.

This fossil necklace is a one-of-a-kind item and you can see other unique Dendraster pendants available for sale in the collection below!

Sand dollars are echinoderms, an ancient and broad family of animals that includes starfish, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. These animals have survived all the way to the modern day by fulfilling a very specific niche in their ecosystem. Their small bodies and simple nervous systems don’t require much energy, so an echinoderm can survive quite easily off small pieces of vegetation that float past.

Like most echinoderms, this species, Dendraster gibbisii, exhibits a five-point radial symmetry which is reflected in the patterns on the surface of the fossil.

Our fascination with fossil enchinoderms has a very long history. Archaeologists have uncovered 4,000-year-old tombs from Ancient Egypt that contained fossilized sea urchins as a kind of grave good. In Bronze Age Britain, humans have been found buried surrounded by dozens of similar sea fossils. These ancient fossil collectors are quite similar to us, just as engrossed in the unique patterns of the stones as we are today.

The coloring of these specimens is unique among sand dollar fossils due to the presence of petroleum in the San Joaquin Valley deposits which lends a natural stain to the stone.

For an in-depth look at the geology of this region, we recommend stopping by San Joaquin Valley Geology. Their introductory page provides a great overview to the history of the region.

Below are pictures of the preparation process. Each fossil is prepared by hand, slowly revealing the patterns beneath the rough exterior and then finishing to a glossy shine.

Please Note: Each specimen is the fossilized remnant of a unique creature. As such, the specimens will vary in size, color, shape, pattern and coloring.