Maltese pygmy elephant cast of tusk
At just 90cm tall Maltese pygmy elephants are the smallest elephants ever discovered. Signor Buttegieg found the first tooth during building work at his home. This prompted Captain Spratt to investigate. The sediment-filled cavern contained many elephant teeth as well as remains of giant dormice, giant swan and giant tortoise. All these species are now extinct. This discovery was so important Spratt sent casts of the elephant bones to museums including RAMM.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- Fos5846
- Collection Class
- Fossils
- Collection Area Region
- Southern Europe
- Collector Excavator
- Spratt, Captain
- Material
- Plaster | Paint | | |
- Common Name
- Maltese pygmy elephant cast of tusk
- Simple Name
- fossil: cast
- Period Classification
- Victorian (1837-1901)
- Production Town
- London
- Production Country
- United Kingdom: England
- Production Person Initials
- Production Person Surname
- British Museum, Natural History
- Production Year Low
- 1860
- Production Year High
- 1878
