Fossil Elk Moose

Archaeo288 · Jun 8, 2017

Hi all,
I'm new to this forum and have to admit that I'm not a hunter but rather an archaeologist with an interesting story: A number of years ago I excavated a fossil Elk Moose off of private property in NW New Jersey. I've had it repaired and articulated and now I'm trying to shop it around. I thought I might come to a site like this where I can get the opinion of lots of people. I'm curious if anyone knows of publications or other websites where people go to "shop" for these kinds of things. I know there is interest out there in big game trophy hunting but what about an enormous fossil? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Ive included a couple pictures too! thanks!

SV

N_Corey · Jun 8, 2017

Sorry I can't help with any info for selling it but I wanted to say congratulations on an awesome find and I'm sure someone would love to add it to their collection.

Archaeo288 · Jun 8, 2017

Thanks!

Tomichi · Jun 8, 2017

There is a store in down Town Anchorage AK that deals in that stuff might try them. I saw a cave bear skeleton in Sedona AZ Pushing $40,000 ??
I think you have something valuable.. Fairbanks Museum could also be a resource. I too have interest in "megafawna"

Archaeo288 · Jun 8, 2017

Thank for your input. yes, its valued at quite a bit. Its going to be hard finding the right buyer...

2lumpy · Jun 8, 2017

Very interesting find and restoration. Actually fascinating. Would you do any good offering it on e-bay or other on-line auctions, with a very high reserve. It might be a way to advertise it world wide and it could lead a serious buyer or three, to your door.

It looks like it has antler characteristics that include moose, caribou and maybe elk, but I see more of a moose/caribou than I do a moose/elk look, to the antlers. But I'm just looking at itfrom an empirical perspective. What modern species are the DNA scientists telling you it has evolved into, or does it have modern offspring.

Thanks for sharing and all the best in finding the right buyer for your treasure.

DC

Archaeo288 · Jun 8, 2017

Its ancestral to the irish elk of the same time period, as for what it is related to that exists today I am not sure. Mega fauna isnt my area of expertise believe it or not. I agree the skull is very moose-like.

Ebay is a good idea and I have been considering it. You raise a good point about being able to advertise it globally that way. I suspect thats what I'll end up doing. Just thought I'd come to a place like here first and see what everyone had to offer. Thanks for your interest.

hornkiller · Jun 9, 2017

I bet jim shockey would love this for his museum!

Mbogo · Jun 9, 2017

Sotheby's

Utjuice · Jun 9, 2017

Pawn stars?

2lumpy · Jun 9, 2017

"Mega fauna isnt my area of expertise believe it or not. I agree the skull is very moose-like. "

From a pure marketing and maximizing your "value vs dollars of worth" it may pay you to have someone who can do the DNA work on it to see if it is related to any modern day species. If it is, and you have already got the certification, I would think it would bring out a buyer or two, with the kind of money your looking for, based on as much information about it, as modern science can provide.

Unraveling the history would enhance it's interest and market value, or so it seems to me.

A biology department as one of our great research Universities might be willing to do it, for free, as part of someone's Doctorate program of study.

Too bad it doesn't have a Clovis point embedded in it's scapula.

DC

Archaeo288 · Jun 9, 2017

You raise some good points. I have some opinions on its origins and ancestry based on the skeletal morphology but the only testing thats been done on it is carbon dating. Thanks for the perspective!

GLEDEASY · Jun 9, 2017

I recently took the kids to the dinosaur exhibit at Thanksgiving point here in UT and saw this.

Very cool find.

scubohuntr · Jun 14, 2017

What is the age and species? Is it a Megaloceros?

Archaeo288 · Jun 14, 2017

It's 11,000 years old and the species is cervalces

AlwaysRuttin · Jun 14, 2017

Looks to me like the horns were twisted in assembly.

kilowatt · Jun 14, 2017

Go to the SFI Museaum out west of Tucson, AZ there is a Giant Elk almost like the one you posted here. It was found in a swamp bog in Scotland and CJ McElroy who founded SCI
bought it for his collection. Seen it down there back in 1979. I have a picture somewhere in an old picture book.

Brian
http://i44.tinypic.com/es7x8z.jpg[/IMG]

american_jackal · Jun 15, 2017

What does the Red and White in the second picture represent?

scubohuntr · Jun 15, 2017

Red is actual fossil bone. White is replica. This specimen was found in 1973 and offered for sale by Maxilla and Mandible in New York, until they went under in 2011 http://maxillaandmandible.com/portfolio/cervalces-scotti/. I assume this guy got it from a bankruptcy sale or something. If he was actually the guy that discovered it, he wouldn't be claiming to be an "archaeologist", as he would know that archaeologists study human culture by examination of artifacts, while paleontologists deal with fossil animal remains.

Archaeo288 · Jun 15, 2017

You are correct that it was for sale at M&M. That is because I have a long standing business/personal relationship with M&M owner. When the business closed the fossil specimen was taken to Utah to be stored at a natural history museum where it will stay until it can be sold. The specimen was uncovered by myself in 1973. I excavated it and kept meticulous logs of its recovery. Conducting a dig in 1973 on private property as a young adult really has nothing to do with my profession as an archaeologist (and paleontologist) today. I haven't made any claims about myself or the fossil that are untrue, please be sure you know what you are talking about before you try to disparage people on here.

scubohuntr · Jun 16, 2017

I apologize for coming off a bit sharp. As a paleontologist, it's a bit of a sore spot with me. I didn't mean to imply that you were claiming anything untrue, but on rereading my post I can see that I worded it poorly. Again, mea culpa, I apologize.

I also have an issue with buying and selling fossil specimens, but I have tried hard to keep that out of my posts as it's a market issue, not a personal or professional issue. It just makes me really sad to see important specimens ending up locked away in some Chinese collector's hoard rather than on display. It also piques me a bit to have to pay $40 admission to a museum because they have to pay through the nose for their specimens. But that is nothing to do with you or this specimen, because the market exists and makes it impossible to remain altruistic. I know I couldn't. The universities are too busy putting exotic hardwood paneling in the varsity football locker rooms to fund digs anymore, and corporate sponsors want guaranteed quick results before they will commit, so the only way these very expensive expeditions will happen is if they can sell off the specimens recovered. I get that. I would just dearly love to see this spectacular specimen and I know I never will, and it makes me cranky to think of all the others I will never know about that have been locked away before anyone got a chance to properly document them. Some of them will be published, but the only people who see that are those who can afford to subscribe to dozens of journals at hundreds of dollars a year each.

One of my favorite places in the world is the Royal Tyrrell museum in Drumheller, Alberta. Just to be in the presence of their spectacular Megalotherium or Bison crassicornus displays, and watch the response of the kids coming through, is an experience to be treasured. Although I know there are more specimens out there than could ever be publicly displayed, I guess I'm greedy that way.

DW · Jun 17, 2017

When they get 80,000 people to fork over $100 apiece to watch an archeological dig there will be exotic hardwood paneling in the science lab too! Nice find, good luck in your quest!