North America, Western United States, late Pleistocene, ca. 12000 to 10000 years ago. This is a very nice fossilized American bison skull from the ice age species Bison antiquus, with most maxillary teeth and horn cores intact! The bone throughout has darkened to a dark umber, nearly black hue from the mineral and sediment in which this skull fossilized. The original horns curve slightly inward, iconic characteristic of both males and females, and most of the maxillary teeth are present. A superb specimen from a prehistoric ancestor to modern bison! Size: 20" L x 23" W (50.8 cm x 58.4 cm); 24.5" H (62.2 cm) on included custom stand.

The bovine family, which contains Taurids (cattle) and bisonids, diverged from a common ancestor with the water buffalo and African buffalo around 5 to 10 million years ago. The bison at some point migrated from Asia across the land bridge into North America. During the Ice Age, these bison were much larger, with species like Bison latifrons (giant bison) and Bison antiquus evolving to become smaller and smaller as the millennia passed and the climate changed. However, modern bison are still the largest land mammals in North America - bigger than moose, elk, and even grizzly bears!

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection, between 1995 to 2010; ex-Denver Mineral Show, Colorado, USA

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#108939

Missing lower jawbone. Infill to fissures with adhesive to the bones behind the ocular cavities. Loss to naval cavity as shown. Great coloration throughout. Missing 3 teeth. Natural ossification and pitting of bone. Abrasions and pitting throughout. Great coloration from aging process!