Unveiling the Past: Remarkable Discoveries of Ancient Elk Remains
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Chapter 1: A Glimpse into the Ancient World
Experiencing a connection to the distant past is truly captivating. Recently, two fishermen in Ireland stumbled upon an incredible find while on a fishing trip: the remnants of an ancient Irish Elk.
Megaloceros giganteus, the scientific designation for the Irish Elk, was a colossal deer species distinguished by its enormous antlers and skulls. This remarkable creature went extinct over 10,000 years ago.
During their fishing expedition in September 2018 near the shores of Lake Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland, the fishermen initially mistook the object they caught for a large branch. To their astonishment, they had actually netted a nearly complete skull and antlers from a creature that lived over 10,500 years ago!
The remains they discovered were not the largest of their kind; standing at 6 feet 5 inches at the shoulders and towering up to 10 feet with antlers that spanned 6 feet, other members of this species boasted antler widths of up to 12 feet. Typically, these majestic animals stood about 6 feet 7 inches tall at the shoulder and weighed around 1,500 pounds.
The Name Deception
The term "Irish Elk" can be misleading; although more remains have been uncovered in Ireland than anywhere else, this species also roamed parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Additionally, despite its name, the Irish Elk is not an elk at all but rather a type of deer.
Extinction Factors
These large mammals thrived in open woodlands and meadows. Researchers believe that environmental transformations, such as the transition of Irish grasslands into dense forests, contributed to their extinction by impeding their movement due to their expansive antlers. Furthermore, hunting by humans across various cultures played a significant role in their decline.
Notable Discoveries
Other remains of extinct deer have also been found in Lake Lough Neagh. For instance, in 1987, another fisherman discovered a skull and antlers, which were later donated to a local educational institution for exhibition. In 2014, yet another fisherman uncovered a lower jawbone of an Irish Elk, carbon-dated to approximately 14,000 years old, hypothesized to be from the same animal as the 1987 find. Additionally, a group of students found an antler near Kirk Michael on the Isle of Man, dated to about 11,000 years ago.
These ancient remains are now showcased in various museums, including the Irish Elk Collection at the Natural History Museum in Dublin, the University of California Museum of Paleontology, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Fishermen's Encounter with History
Witnessing the excitement of the two fishermen who unearthed a relic from over 10,000 years ago is a delightful moment captured in this video. Their disbelief at the discovery speaks volumes about the wonders of the past.
The thrill of finding such historical remnants reminds us that, despite the vastness of our planet, it remains a finite space. The remains of this massive deer, which once roamed the plains of northern Europe at the close of the last Ice Age, serve as a poignant reminder that these creatures once shared the same environment we inhabit today.
Chapter 2: Exploring More Connections
Artifacts made from extinct Eastern Elk remains found at James Fort - YouTube
Ep. 047: Born and Raised Outdoors with Trent Fisher and Kody Kellom - YouTube