Très grand crâne d'ours des cavernes Large Cave Bear Skull Ursus spelaeus ingressus Pleistocene Dragoncave, Mixnitz, Steirmark, Austria This uncommonly large skull is from the extinct species of the true cave bear of Europe, Ursus spelaeus ingressus. One of the finer skulls seen on the market in many years, the present specimen displays beautifully preserved teeth, (with incisors measuring up to 8.4 cm in height) exhibiting natural wear, which is expected from a full grown adult skull. The skull measures 20 ½ x 11 ¼ inches (52 x 29 cm) and comes mounted complete with its lower jaws. The Ice Age cave bear was the largest of all bears related to, but outsizing, today's modern black, brown and polar bears. They inhabited Europe, Eastern Europe and parts of Asia until their extinction at the end of the last Ice Age. As shown by the archaeological record, they were contemporaries of modern humans: many cave sites show signs of competition between cave bears and humans as the two species battled for shelter for thousands of years. Evidence shows that both Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons hunted cave bears; scientists theorize that the demise of the cave bear may have been, in part, due to human hunting. Measuring 52 x 29 cm overall. Upper jaw length 50 cm, lower jaw length 35 cm (2) Footnotes: Offered with a custom-fitted wooden base. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com