Amonite fossils, or Shaligrams
The Ammonite fossils seen in this picture are called Shaligrams by Hindus in Nepal. These Shaligrams are worshiped by Hindus as an embodiment of Vishnu, the god of protection. Ammonites are an extinct group of marine animals of the subclass Ammonoidea in the class Cephalopoda, phylum Mollusca. They are excellent index fossils, as it is often possible to link the rock layer in which they are found to specific geological time periods.
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