The picture shown is of a Scytalia laevis sponge fossil at the Museo di Paleontologia at Sapienza University of Rome Italy. Creatures like this existed at the time of the Upper Cretaceous Period (Campanian). The fossil was found in Nettlingen, Hannover, Germany.
Image taken in June 2014.
Another German specimen can be seen at this fossil web site:
http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/gallery/image/23435-scytalia-turbinata-roemer-1864/
