A friend of mine's son was wading around in a stream in the Peak District when he found this - what he thought to be a dog's skull - and he brought it home with him.
Research showed it to be a Wolf's skull.
Further research still showed it to be a medieval Wolf's skull, because Wolves - apparently - died out there in the 15th century.
I know the last British Wolf to be shot in Britain was killed in Scotland somewhere around the mid-nineteenth century, but I don't think that this one wandered down as far as Derbyshire, though they can wander quite far on a cold, snowy night. Usually, around a hundred mile round-trip in deep snow is their maximum when really hungry.
It is now in my custody, and that involves doing further research still, so I can sell it at best price in order to help finance my friend's son's passage through university.
If it is - as everything indicates - a remarkably well preserved Wolf's skull dating from late 1400s England, then this is a rare thing indeed.
I am looking forward to getting to know it over the next month or two.
Wow
ReplyDelete,!
Indeed! I am so pleased to have it around for a bit.
DeleteThat is just great. Jealous.
DeleteSad they died out there. They still live in the States, but ranchers shoot them and coyotes regularly.
ReplyDeleteThere is talk of reintroducing them up in Scotland, but the sheep farmers aren't too happy about the idea.
DeleteFantastic photo; the light making shadows of those teeth make it even more sinister. Good researches to you.
ReplyDeleteI think I might begin with the Natural History Museum of London.
DeleteLook at those teeth - all the better to eat you with my dear.
ReplyDeleteI was just about to say the same thing to you, my dear...
DeleteVery, very cool! I wish I had found it.
ReplyDeleteSo do I.
DeleteClever conservationists reintroduced wolves into the Pyrenees a few years back; I think they'd been imported from some soviet bloc country. Of course the wolves needed to eat, so they killed sheep and lambs. As a result the local farmers shot them all.
ReplyDeleteMy German friend told me that a small pack of Wolves have been spotted in the outskirts of Bremerhaven, his home town. Previously they would not have got through border-control. There is now a big debate about whether to kill them or let them be.
DeleteVery cool indeed! And the research will be interesting.
ReplyDeleteYes.
DeleteAre you keeping it by the bedside? You can get to know it when you wake up in the night and have a chat with it. Your buddy, wolf head.
ReplyDeleteYes, it could impart ancient wisdom to me as I sleep.
DeleteI doubt it could penetrate your hard exterior.
DeleteMaybe not without its bottom set.
DeleteWonderful - what an incredible find - hope it sells well.
ReplyDeleteIt ought to - American resin replicas sell for about $200 each.
DeleteWow ! Look at those teeth !
ReplyDeleteAll the better to....
DeleteUPDATE:
ReplyDeleteMy first bit of research tells me that wolves carried on in remote parts of the North until the early 19th century, so this skull is more likely to be Georgian rather than Medieval. It's still pretty old though.
It's incredibly well-preserved. What a great find!
ReplyDeleteYes - it's a real rarity, Bea.
Delete