Ancient Europe, Pleistocene epoch, ca. 1.2 million to 24,000 years ago. The fossilized claw of a European cave bear (Ursus spelaeus), with its almost humanlike form and long claws. Enormous cave bears were first described in 1774, and scientists at the time thought their huge remains might be polar bears. Later it was realized that they were once part of the group of megafauna that roamed Ice Age Europe - alongside mammoths, wooly rhinos, giant deer, and lions - and males of the species could be fifty percent larger than modern day grizzly bears. Ancient humans were aware of the animals and painted them on the walls of caves. Despite their fierce appearance, cave bears had a mostly vegetarian diet, and ultimately went extinct during the Last Glacial Maximum ca. 27000 to 24000 years ago, when the vegetation they relied upon disappeared. Comes with custom stand. Size: 6.2" W x 13" H (15.7 cm x 33 cm); 14.45" (36.7 cm)

Provenance: private Illinois, USA collection

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#125771

Repair, with some painted surfaces designed to look like bone. Bones have been fused together in some places and are joined with stiff wires.