A unique paleontological find of the Jurassic period was to be exported from Ukraine
Kyiv • UNN
Customs officers in Ukraine have seized a Jurassic fossil dating back about 161-165 million years that was attempted to be illegally exported to the United States without proper documents. Experts recommend that the fossil, a well-preserved sea urchin shell, be included in the list of objects of national heritage of Ukraine.
Customs officers did not allow the export of a paleontological exclusive about 161-165 million years old from Ukraine, the State Customs Service reported on Wednesday, UNN reports.
Details
Kyiv Customs officers detained an exclusive Jurassic fossil that was attempted to be illegally sent abroad.
During the customs control of an international mail shipment from Ternopil to the United States, customs officers found an unusual rough stone with growths. Due to signs of organic residue on the stone, it was sent to the National Museum of Natural History to determine its cultural value.
According to experts, this "stone" is the shell of the sea urchin Pygaster michelini, on which Serpula sp. settled. The location is likely to be Trakhtemyriv (Cherkasy region), Dnipro River basin. The geological age is about 161-165 million years.
Experts emphasize the originality and perfect preservation of the specimen. The fossil comes from the Cenozoic deposits of the Jurassic period and has cultural value as a geological heritage. Experts recommend that the find be included in the State Register of National Heritage and the Museum Fund of Ukraine.
Exporting cultural property across the customs border requires a certificate from the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine. In this case, no such document was provided to the customs officers. A report on violation of customs rules under Article 473 of the Customs Code of Ukraine was drawn up. The fossil was seized until the court decision.
