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Viking excrement fossil: the most expensive poo in the world!

Credits: Wikipedia

Sometimes, scientists really are talking sh*t! The proof is in this fossilised excrement, which dates back to the 9th century. It was discovered about 40 years ago, and is famous for being the most expensive poo in the world! 

The fossil is known as the Lloyds Bank Coloprite, the word “Coprolite” simply meaning fossilised dung. The rest of its name refers to the fact that it was found in 1972 by construction workers during the building of a Lloyds TSB branch in York, in the north west of England.

Currently held in the Jorvic Viking Centre in York, the Lloyds Bank Coloprite dates back to the Viking kingdom of York, which was in existence between 866 and 954, and built by Vikings originating from Denmark. It is one of the oldest fossilised pieces of excrement ever found, and the most expensive, with an estimated value of $39,000. Its measurements are also fairly impressive, at 20 cm long and 5 cm thick.

Britain's Most Historic Towns – Viking Poo

This video is a massive load of sh*t.

Publiée par Channel 4 sur Lundi 23 avril 2018

According to analyses of the specimen, the “producer” of this turd ate meat and bread. He must also have had some intestinal problems, and probably had not had a bowel movement for several days previous. In a video filmed by Channel 4, one of the museum directors estimated that if we ever succeed in extracting and analysing DNA from the excrement, it could be possible to determine the kind of flora that this Viking had in his intestines.

In 2003, the British daily The Guardian announced some bad news: during a school trip to the Jorvic Viking Centre of York, the excrement fell to the floor and was broken into three distinct parts. A team from York’s Archaeological Resource Centre subsequently started restoration works, as they would with any other museum piece.

Sources: Channel 4The Guardian

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