Buffalo Skull

Late Pleistocene (15,000 - 11,700 years ago), Anoka Co., Minnesota

Auction Closed

July 26, 08:15 PM GMT

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Buffalo Skull

Bison antiquus

Late Pleistocene (15,000 - 11,700 years ago)

Anoka Co., Minnesota

21 × 25½ inches x 8¼ (53.3 × 64.8 x 21.0 cm). 13 pounds (5.90 kg).

Virtually complete intact skull belonging to a young adult bull based on the unfused cranial sutures and moderate wear on its dentition. This specimen was unearth from an ancient peat bog deposit where it developed a delightful sienna earth color.

Phillips, May 17, 1998 (Lot 221);

Private collection, acquired from the above

A complete and robust skull of an adult male buffalo (Bison antiquus), with well-formed, protruding eye sockets and horns, and missing only two premolars. The skull has a dark chocolate patina with white enamel teeth along the jaw.

Bison antiquus was the most common large herbivore on the North American continent for over 10,000 years and is a direct ancestor of the extant American bison. However, Bison antiquus was approximately 25% more massive than current bison, approaching 7½ feet in height and 15 feet in length, and weighing approximately 3,500 pounds.