GIANT CAVE BEAR (URSUS SPELAEUS) SKULL - Undisclosed Cave in Romania

PLEISTOCENE PERIOD:  200,000 - 20,000 years ago

As the largest cave bear skull we have ever seen available for public sale, we are quite excited to have secured such a phenomenally rare specimen.  At 20.5" in length, this monster example is from a very large male and is reported to have been the largest skull ever found in Romania.  What is most remarkable is that despite its massive size, it is also the FINEST PRESERVED skull we have ever seen.  The plethora of images above testify to this, showing close-up images of details that are seldom seen.  

Where most Ursus spelaeus skulls on the market have been subjected to considerable restoration, this rare skull can boast of LESS THAN 2% RESTORATION!  The only necessary work that was performed is limited to the anterior region of the lower jaw and the less than half inch of the tips of the upper canines.  Despite other dealers claiming "Less than 5% restoration", there is usually much more restoration work performed on most skulls than this exceedingly rare specimen possesses.  Special intact and authentic features worth mentioning include the complete perfect state of preservation and 100% intact zygomatic arches (cheek bones).  Important to note, this area is almost always fabricated and most specimens have this area well-disguised even to the recreation of the 'S' fissure being carved in the putty.  The ventral region of the upper skull shows fantastic natural detail and completeness, as well with full nasal passage.  Unlike many skulls that just exhibit the upper and lower canines, this beauty has the full compliment of all of the front incisors as well, in both upper and lower jaws!

If you are ready to invest in one of the largest and finest GENUINE Ursus spelaeus skulls ever available, then this rare specimen is a must for any public or private display.

BEWARE OF SO-CALLED "RUSSIAN (SIBERIA" CAVE BEAR" FOSSILS being offered on the market.  THESE ARE NOT TRUE CAVE BEAR FOSSILS!  While cave bear remains have been found in the region, it is another fossil bear species named Ursus uralensis that is being sold as Ursus spelaeus and being labeled as the "Russian Cave Bear".  THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISREPRESENTATIONS OF THE FOSSIL BUSINESS TODAY!  The Siberian species uralensis was NOT a cave-dwelling bear but is an extinct off-shoot similar to a modern Grizzly bear.  Out of ignorance, some dealers will call it Ursus spelaeus, some will call it the right species, but all will call their Russian bear fossils "cave bear" which is a complete misidentification.  

The features of the  Russian non-cave-dwelling species are evident when compared to the true European Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus).  The Russian  bear species (uralensis) is also not as massive as the true European cave bear, Ursus spelaeus.  Basic anatomical features of the skull are easy to differentiate the two.  Ursus spelaeus will have larger zygomatic arches (cheek bones), a much steeper forehead and a higher, more pronounced sagittal crest (the crest on the dorsal posterior portion of the skull).  Compare the skull images on this page and elsewhere in this section to Russian skulls being sold elsewhere and you will see the difference.  Russian bear fossils of Ursus uralensis are MUCH MORE prevalent and found in greater numbers today than high quality TRUE cave bear fossils (Ursus spelaeus), and therefore are less rare and reflect a lower price than the European specimens.

Ursus spelaeus was a huge omnivorous bear that resided in caves year-round compared to modern bears which only use caves as a shelter for hibernation.  When standing on its hind legs, the height of this beast would have averaged 10 feet tall!  Skulls have been found 20 inches in length!  The closest relative is our modern day brown bear but the cave bear averages 30% greater in size.  One way to differentiate a cave bear skull from a brown bear (and all other bears for that matter) is the sheer size, first off, and also the prominence of the brow and forehead unique to the cave bear.  Modern bear skulls have a more gradual sloping forehead.

Found throughout caves in Europe, the cave bear was named after the places where its remains are commonly found: caves, in the Alps, the Ardennes, the Carpathian and Ural Mountains, and in many other European mountain chains.  Remains found in caves near the North Sea and in The Netherlands show that the range of Ursus spelaeus eventually spread into the lowland forests of western Europe.  In this last region, populations drastically declined around 40,000 years ago finally becoming extinct during the last glacial period.  It is believed that the cave bears' demise was aided by competition for food and shelter by a simultaneous existence with the brown bear.  Evidence found in caves suggests that prehistoric man either worshipped the cave bear or used its remains in religious rituals.  Pressure from hunting by man could also have been a contributing factor in their extinction.

A MASSIVE SKULL OF SUPERB, RARE PRESERVATION - EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN THIS SIZE AND GRADE!

20.5" in length

SOLD     LM4002     Actual Item - One Only

5395