Giant deer
Megaloceros giganteus*
The museum’s highlight is the complete skeleton of a male giant deer, which was found in a bog in Ireland. The museum acquired this skeleton in 1902. Antler fragments from the giant deer have also been found in gravel layers in Magdeburg. In addition, the occurrence of reindeer, elk and red deer is also documented. The giant deer was a steppe animal widespread in Eurasia. Between the individual ice ages, there were long warm periods during which this species migrated from southern Asia into our area.
The span of its antlers could reach up to four metres with a weight of up to 40 kilograms. By comparison, the antlers of today’s elk reach a maximum weight of 35 kilograms. In Central Europe, the giant deer became extinct after the Weichselian glaciation 11,500 years ago. In Ireland and Western Siberia, these animals lived until the early post-glacial period 7,600 years ago.
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