This fossil of a cidaroid echinoid (a sea urchin) dates from the Eocene (56-34 millions of years ago). The hieroglyphic inscription on the base reads: “Found to the south of the quarry by the god’s father Tjanefer.” The place of discovery and the fact that it is inscribed suggest that the object was displayed in the temple as a manifestation of the sacred. Since the name of the quarry is not indicated, it was probably a well-known one near Heliopolis.
