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CountAllVotes

(20,854 posts)
Fri Sep 7, 2018, 11:55 AM Sep 2018

Fisherman pulls skull of extinct Great Irish Elk from Lough Neagh

The surprise catch is over 10,500-years-old

The skull of an extinct Great Irish Elk pulled from Lough Neagh in a fishing net is over 10,500-years-old.

Ardboe fisherman Raymond McElroy was pictured alongside his catch of the day on Ardboe Gallery’s Facebook page.

Great Irish Elks have not roamed the loughshore for thousands of years.

<snip>

It’s understood a jawbone pulled from the lough in June 2014 was dated as at least 14,000-years-old by Ulster Museum curator Kenneth James.

But Mr McElroy’s find was a little more substantial.

His net hauled out almost the entire skull and antlers of the beast.

and ...

<snip>

The amazingly well preserved fossil was found between Salterstown Castle and Ballyronan as the fisherman was out looking for pollan.

It's understood he had quite a job pulling it from the water.

Raymond said: "It came up in the net on the side of the boat. I thought it was a bit of black oak to begin with.

"I was shocked to begin with when I got it over the side and saw the skull and antlers.



**************

What a fascinating find!

more here: https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/belfast-news/fisherman-pulls-skull-extinct-great-15116923

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Fisherman pulls skull of extinct Great Irish Elk from Lough Neagh (Original Post) CountAllVotes Sep 2018 OP
That's quite a fish story! Liberty Belle Sep 2018 #1
A big fish with a huge old rack on it -- rofl!! CountAllVotes Sep 2018 #2
What a haul! Nitram Sep 2018 #3
How could it swim like that? defacto7 Sep 2018 #4
That's going on the wall for sure NickB79 Sep 2018 #5
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