Central Europe, Pleistocene Era, ca. 25000 to 10000 years ago. Found in a river gravel deposit, this is a wonderful skull from an aurochs (Bos primigenius/taurus), the undomesticated precursor to the modern cow. Size: 20" L (50.8 cm)

The late Aurochs was a reduced animal compared to the earlier form with much broader horns and larger proportions. In either type a skull like this is RARE, especially with today's machinery different than before where the modern dredges pulverize the gravel, subsequently destroying the fossils BEFORE they are brought up. This skull is in remarkable condition considering the remaining fragile anatomy that survived both the last Ice Age and the river dredge that retrieved it. All bone surfaces are impeccable and both horn cores are present. Some of the original teeth are still in their sockets. Some very rare original un-repaired anatomy is present that is usually absent in these skulls. Part of the most distal tip of the fragile nose process is present, most of the palate is present, both eye orbits are complete and intact and the zygomatic arches are still complete and intact.

The color is natural and is a rich dark coffee brown. This is a rare fossil from a beast that is seldom found in Late Pleistocene fossil collections. These animals lived alongside humans, played a vital role for resources in human survival during the last Ice Age and were hunted / revered by both Neanderthal man and Cro-Magnon man, being depicted in many of the most famous prehistoric cave art of Europe.



Provenance: Purchased from a German collection in 2010.

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#120928

No repair or restoration