Lot 1
Eastern Europe, Romania, Pleistocene, ca. 100,000 to 25,000 years ago. A remarkably preserved fossilized skull of a Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus), an extinct Ice Age species that once roamed the mountainous regions of Europe. The skull displays impressive dentition, including large canines and molars, offering insight into the animal's omnivorous diet. Its robust structure and broad cranium reflect the massive build of these prehistoric bears, which could weigh over 1,000 pounds. The fossil retains excellent surface detail, from the natural weathering and mineralization of the bone to the rich earthen patina developed over millennia. Presented on a custom metal and wood display stand for presentation - this is an extraordinary specimen! Size: 16" L x 9" W (40.6 cm x 22.9 cm); 14" H (35.6 cm) on included custom stand; canine tooth: 1.75" L (4.4 cm)
Cave bears were purportedly more than ten feet or three meters tall when they stood on their hind legs. The closest relative to Ursus spelaeus is our modern-day brown bear; however average cave bears were approximately 30 percent larger in size! Beyond this sheer size differential, another way to differentiate a cave bear skull from a brown bear (and all other bears for that matter) is the prominence of the brow and forehead, unique to the cave bear, as modern bear skulls have a more gradual sloping forehead.
PROVENANCE: private Hagar collection, Wildwood, Missouri, USA
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Item #
197550
- Condition: Professional repairs and restoration with new material to both zygomatic arches, nasal bone. Teeth look all original with some adhesive to stabilize in place, missing 2 incisors. Small hole to forehead and left side above frontal orbit. Expected mineralization and surface weathering from fossilization.
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