Prior to about 1999, fakery was ubiquitous and rampant among the Moroccan trilobites. Some were entirely manufactured from ceramics and polymer resins, and others were real in part, literally chipped out of the very hard limestone with hammer and nail, losing eyes and spines in the process. The missing parts were subsequently carved from the matrix. With the advent of modern preparatory equipment, completely authentic Moroccan trilobites are now available. Fakes still abound, however, so caution is warranted (see this fake trilobites information) -- generally avoid trilobites from Morocco where a liberal coat of paint has been applied, as this is not needed; or, if you like painted trilobites, then paint them yourself.

The change occurred when several U.S. importers enabled modern prep equipment to be available in Morocco, and insisted on quality and authenticity. One of these Moroccan Trilobites pioneers was Joe Aaronson of Pangaea Industries, whose business is mainly wholesale, but who also has a retail website. Still the hammer and nail prepped bondo-bugs abound, and get dumped on e-bay and in various shops. Increasingly, the fakes are disappearing, as they become uneconomical. The Moroccan preparators can work for a fraction of minimum wage, live like princes, and crank out low-cost, beautiful trilobites. It is essentially cost-prohibitive to prep Moroccan trilobites in the U.S.

The major fossil web sites such as Indiana9, Fossil Mall, Stones and Bones, and Extinctionss are very insistent on authenticity and quality, and provide beautiful trilobites for about the same price. Practically speaking, they all buy from the same source. Joe (who we will soon interview and publish the results) cautions collectors to not be duped by scare mongers who want to charge too much. As a rule of thumb, the finest spiny Moroccan trilobites such as Dicranurus monstrosus, Psychopyge elegans should be priced from $1100 to $1400, and Comura bultyncki under $2000, for example, when prepared with their many spines free standing, an exceedingly time expensive process. The more common Moroccan Devonian trilobites should be priced under $100, except the so-called flying versions with free standing spines, which should be fairly priced in the $200 to $300 range.

And again, to repeat, be sure to ask if the trilobite is painted before purchasing.