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RARE GIANT DEER MEGALOCEROS PARTIAL SKULL WITH DETAILED BRAIN CASE Gravel Quarry - Southeastern Poland LATE PLEISTOCENE PERIOD: 1.5 million - 7,700 years ago This is a VERY RARE fossil since genuine fossil specimens of this extinct Ice Age beast are seldom available for sale on the public market. When they are, they are usually jaw sections of small portions of the antlers. A recent collection we acquired included two partial skull portions and this is one of the two specimens. Presented here is an intact skull cap with partial antler bases and highly detailed brain case of the extinct European Giant Deer Megaloceros giganteus. The specimen is UNBROKEN, completely natural and original as found. For educational display, this is a perfect specimen because it is extremely heavy and demonstrates the thickness of the cranium and detailed brain case showing how large the brain was. This was quite an amazing creature and it is hard to believe the animal was able to manage the weight of the skull with these massive antlers. The bone is extremely solid and well-mineralized making this a perfect fossil to safely pass around in a classroom or for museum visitors to handle. To pick up and feel the massive proportions of this beast's skull is an experience you will never forget! This probably was one of the most magnificent beasts of the last Ice Age and the scarcity of the fossils lead us to believe these were very solitary animals with large territories similar to a modern day moose. The bone shows remarkable grain and beautiful dark natural coloring. Fine grade fossils of this massive beast are most difficult to find in today's market. From an animal that is almost never found in private fossil collections or even public museums. Guaranteed INTACT WITH NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. This specimen would also make a great compliment to a primitive man stone tool and weapon collection as they lived alongside each other in pre-history at one point, and were hunted and revered by both Neanderthal man and Cro-Magnon man.
The Giant Deer was the largest member of the Cervidae (deer family) that ever walked the planet. It stood over 10 feet at the shoulders and males had massive antler racks that spread over 11 feet in width. Like deer of today, these antlers were shed annually. These beasts are estimated to have weighed between 800 and 1000 pounds. The design of the antlers varied considerably between each Giant Deer but all had flat broad regions with projecting pointed tines. Only the males possessed antlers. The impressive racks functioned in two ways: to intimidate rivals and impress potential mates, as well as for fighting other males. The antlers were naturally designed as well-engineered weapons that were both deadly and able to sustain heavy impact when thrust against another rack. Two fighting males would strike each other in an attempt to gouge the enemy with their heavy, sharp antler tines. Large herds of Giant Deer roamed Europe and Western Asia during the last Ice Age where they were hunted by large cats, wolves and Primitive Man. Genuine fossil remains are seldom found today. The largest known deposits of Giant Deer fossils have been found in peat bogs in Ireland. In the earlier centuries, remains were able to be located beneath the turf as it was harvested by hand. Today, the peat is extracted with machinery which damages the fossils and complicates discovery. Furthermore, despite these deposits, Giant Deer fossils are protected in Ireland and off-limits to export. While the Giant Deer lived in other parts of Europe besides Ireland, preserved remains are a rare and prized find. Both names, MEGALOCEROS and MEGACEROS are interchangeably used. ULTRA RARE - DRAMATIC DISPLAY SPECIMEN OF MASSIVE SKULL SHOWING WITH HIGHLY DETAILED BRAIN CASE ON UNDERSIDE SCARCE FOSSIL FROM A CLASSIC BUT RARE ICE AGE BEAST! 7.5" across $345 LM19-012 Actual Item - One Only |
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The
extinct Giant Deer, known both as Megaloceros (and Megaceros) giganteus,
went completely extinct after the last Ice Age ended. The latest
remains have been Carbon-14 dated to 7700 years ago. This animal
is also called the "Irish Elk" or "Giant Irish Deer" but it is neither
an elk nor exclusively found in Ireland, where it once thrived in the
lowlands there, up to 10,500 years ago.
