Eastern Europe, Romania, Bihor County, Chiscau (Kiskoh), Pleistocene, ca. 100,000 to 25,000 years ago. A spectacular example of the manus (forepaw) of a huge cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) that lived during the Ice Age / Pleistocene. All the fossilized phalanges and claw cores have been strung on wire, making for an articulated museum-quality display! Ursus spelaeus was an enormous omnivorous bear that resided in caves year-round as opposed to modern bears which mainly use caves to hibernate during the winter months. This paw came from the aptly named Bear's Cave, located in the Carpathian Mountains - a multichambered lair- that many generations of cave bears used. The cave?s dry conditions preserved the remains of about 140 cave bears! Size: 9" L x 5.75" W (22.9 cm x 14.6 cm); 8.25" H (21 cm) on included custom stand.

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 New Jersey, USA collection, acquired from a private European collection

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#183867

Professionally prepared. Metal wires added through each bone and stabilizing putty/adhesive infill added to gaps between bones and claws to secure them in place. Natural ossification and pitting to bone and claw cores as expected with age. Choice!