Fossilized Human Penis Found in Seaman Wash, UT [HmMNMdMkPNT]

Fossilized Human Penis Found in Seaman Wash, UT [HmMNMdMkPNT]

| 1h 28m 28s | Video has closed captioning.

Rare example of soft tissue fossilization. Because of the rare conditions required for a biological structure to become a fossil, it is estimated that less than 1% of all species that have lived are found in the fossil record. Most fossils that form are from the portion of the organism that was already partially mineralized, such as bones and teeth. In rare cases, soft tissue can be fossilized. It requires near-perfect conditions where the carcass is quickly buried in an anoxic environment with minimal bacteria to slow decomposition. It is currently unknown whether this soft tissue fossil was formed from permineralization (mineral-rich groundwater fills the empty spaces in an organism, lending itself to very fine detail in even soft tissue) or carbonaceous films (soft tissues of organisms are mostly carbon. Diagenesis, under reducing conditions leaves a thin carbon film in the silhouette of the original organism). Our fossilized penis was found in Seaman Wash, UT near Norther Arizona. The area yields fossils in the strata of Middle Jurassic shale. The penis was not dug from the cliffs. Rather, it was found in the sand of the wash. Given that the Jurassic period spanned 200 million years ago to 150 million years ago, and human fossils aren't found until 7.2 million years ago, it is assumed that our human fossil came from a later period, perhaps the Paleolithic Period, 50,000 to 11,500 years ago. The fossil likely washed out of more recent soils and fell to the wash. Study, such as carbon dating, as well as search for more human remains, may help to tell the story of the owner of the penis. As expected, it was in the flaccid state. I'm not a paleontologist. The information I have related comes from a scientist friend who briefly examined the penis. If you have thoughts or ideas, leave a comment.