Partial Skeleton of an Elk-moose, Cervalces scotti, from Chippewa Lake, Medina County, Ohio

Abstract

A partial skeleton of an elk-moose, Cervalces scotti, was excavated at a depth of about 5 m below the surface near Chippewa Lake, Medina County, OH. A total of 44 bones and bone fragments were recovered from a male animal judged to be between 4.5 and 5.5 years old, based on comparison with Alces americanus and Cervus elaphus. Bone from the Cervalces was radiocarbon dated at 11,695 ± 35 14C yr BP. Peaty and calcareous muck from the level of the bone was also collected, and provided information about the freshwater mollusca, pollen, and seeds deposited at about the same time the skeleton was buried. Several long bones display spiral fracturing and gnawing of corticular bone at the epiphyses consistent with scavenging by a large predator.