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AUROCHS LOWER THORACIC VERTEBRA Maas River, Holland LATE PLEISTOCENE PERIOD: 20,000 - 10,000 years ago Protected deep within the Late Pleistocene gravel bars of the Maas River, this is an INTACT and complete fossilized lower thoracic vertebrae of an extinct Aurochs (Bos primigenius / taurus). Remarkably, all processes including the delicate and very wide lateral processes are present. There is just very minor erosion on a few of the edges of the processes but they are in rare condition because they are unbroken and complete to the ends. The rich medium brown hue is natural as a result of the sediments and age. Most impressive is that there is no repair and no restoration. This vertebrae was retrieved from the river exactly as shown. Treated with an invisible preservative to protect its fine qualities. Guaranteed NO REPAIR and NO RESTORATION. See image below for the location on an Aurochs skeleton where this specimen is from. This specimen would also make a great compliment to a primitive man stone tool and weapon collection as they lived alongside each other at one point in history and were hunted and revered by both Neanderthal man and Cro-Magnon man.
The Aurochs was a famous animal in prehistoric times. These massive beasts were an ancient form of cattle with massive bones, heavily muscled bodies and long curving horns. They were hunted and worshipped by primitive man and featured in many famous prehistoric cave paintings across Europe. To challenge such a massive and powerful beast with mere wood and stone weaponry must have certainly been quite an experience and no doubt the killing of an aurochs with such primitive weapons would have brought great respect amongst human peers for bravery, if not for insanity! VERY RARE COMPLETE CONDITION LOWER VERTEBRA OF ONE OF THE CLASSIC ANIMALS OF EUROPE'S LAST ICE AGE 11" long $195 LM17-019 Actual Item - One Only |
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Aurochs are the
ancestors of present-day domestic cattle. After the ice age aurochs were
spread across Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. They lived on the
plains and at the forest's edge. Their populations were gradually
reduced as people hunted them and civilization destroyed their
habitats. Surviving the great Pleistocene mass extinction, the
last Aurochs known died on a game preserve in Poland in the year 1627
A.D..