Lot 54H
Central Europe, Pleistocene, ca. 250000 to 15000 years ago. This is a rare arm bone (radius) of the European Cave Lion (Panthera leo spelaea). This extremely robust limb bone is impeccably well-preserved and complete except for the proximal joint end. European cave lion fossils are as, if not more, rare than North American Smilodon fossils. They are the crown jewels of any Ice Age collection as this carnivore was the most dangerous apex predator of its day. Size: 10.5" L (26.7 cm)
To label fossils of the European Cave Lion (Panthera leo spelaea) as "RARE" is an understatement, to say the least. The material is infinitely more rare than the most famous large prehistoric cat fossils of the Americas - Smilodon fatalis, which continue to fetch world-record prices in the public market. The absence of European Ice Age mega-predator fossils remains in the market underscores the sheer rarity of such material compared to more prevalent Smilodon material on American markets.
The bone is INTACT with otherwise, perfect preservation. The bone has been completely cleaned and conserved and is intact as it was found with NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION. Any and all fossil remains of the European Cave Lion are EXTRAORDINARILY RARE but major post-cranial remains such as a primary limb bone can be considered a once-in-a-lifetime find. Recent scientific studies reveal a fascinating and brutal former world that existed in the last Ice Age of Europe where Cave Hyenas and Cave Lions hunted and fed on each other as well as Cave Bears and even humans such as Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons.
The European Cave Lion (Panthera leo spelaea) first appeared in Europe around 500,000 years ago and lived up to the near close of the last European Ice Age. They coexisted with primitive humans such as Neanderthals and Cro-Magnon man and prehistoric European cave paintings have been found depicting these beasts as well as Paleolithic ivory carvings and clay figures. Artifact evidence suggests these animals were worshipped and on rare occasion, hunted by prehistoric man.
Provenance: Purchased from a German collection in 2010.
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#120929
- Condition: No repair or restoration. One end missing but otherwise complete.
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