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LARGE CAVE BEAR (URSUS SPELAEUS) JAW WITH LARGE PERFECT FANG Undisclosed Cave - Carpathian Mountains, Romania PLEISTOCENE PERIOD: 200,000 - 20,000 years ago Perfect to display alone, with related mammal specimens of the last Ice Age or with stone tools and weapons of the Neanderthals considering their extensive interaction and veneration of cave bears, this is a fascinating example of a lower left mandible of the true Cave Bear, Ursus spelaeus. It was collected from a Pleistocene cave deposit in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. Entire jaw bone is 100% genuine and natural as found with all related genuine teeth. Second molar to the rear had a fracture glued but there is no fabrication to this large and very impressive specimen. Probably, the finest canine fang tooth you will find is present in this jaw. Almost the entire portion of the condyle (joint) is present. The entire bone surface is dense and smooth. NO FABRICATION OR REPAIR. An impressive and yet, affordable specimen of these massive beasts.
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. Found throughout caves in Europe, the Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus) was named after the places where its remains are commonly found: caves from England to the Caspian Sea with the majority concentrated in Central and Eastern 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. The bear group Ursus, is a member of the order Carnivora. Ursus is comprised of the six remaining modern bear species. The Protursus subfamily was the starting point dating back to an origin about 10 million years ago. Around 5 million years ago from this group, emerged the species Ursus minimus, the ancestor of all Ursus bears. One offshoot Ursus species of bear, Ursus etruscus (Etruscan bear), gave rise to a line of Ursus bears that all became extinct. These three are Ursus savini (Savin's bear), Ursus deningeri (Deninger's bear), and Ursus spelaeus (cave bear).
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 humans either worshipped the cave bear or used its remains in religious rituals. Basic "temples" have been discovered intact within caves that were set up and left by Neanderthals with cave bear skulls set upon rock altars and arranged in formations. Instances of teeth and bones carefully lined up have also been discovered in caves once occupied by Neanderthals. The oldest positively dated musical instrument was discovered in a cave in Slovenia. It was a flute made by the Neanderthals out of the bone of a cave bear. It has been dated to 50,000 years ago. In one cave in particular, a stone structure was found to have been erected by Neanderthals with a cave bear skull perched upon it and evidence of numerous spears being thrown at it. Cave drawings and carvings of the cave bear originate with the Neanderthal people and caves have been discovered where Neanderthal and later, Cro-Magnon peoples occupied caves after or on alternating periods with cave bears. Man's imagination with these beasts continued into the Middle Ages where skulls discovered in caves in mountainous regions of Europe were misinterpreted to have been the remains of dragons. This is the reason why many maps that date to this period have these regions bearing the forewarning notations, "Here be Dragons". Cave Bear remains have been found from England to the Caspian Sea with the majority concentrated in mountainous regions of Central and Eastern Europe. FASCINATING JAW WITH STUNNING QUALITY LOWER FANG AND FROM A LARGE BEAR! 10.5" in length SOLD LM40-014 INCLUDES STAND Actual Item - One Only |
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