Description
The rarest things on Earth were formed by the most ordinary processes, repeated for eons. Glyptodon — an armadillo the size of a Volkswagen Beetle — roamed South America until approximately 10,000 years ago. Its rigid shell was composed of thousands of interlocking osteoderms (bone plates) hexagonal in pattern, like the shell of a turtle but evolved independently in armadillo relatives. Early humans likely hunted glyptodons; some shells show evidence of having been used as shelters.
This specimen originates from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, one of the world’s most significant localities for this type of material. Collectors and scientists have drawn from this region for generations, and for good reason: the combination of geological conditions here produces specimens of exceptional quality and clarity.
Every specimen is unique. Photographs approximate the visual experience, but the real thing — its weight, its luster under a raking light, the way it catches the corner of your eye — can only be experienced directly.
