Christmas brings turnabout for prehistoric deer
Santa’s presence in Warwickshire museum’s ‘Grotto of Giving’ has had a ‘moving’ effect on one of the museum’s long-term residents.
A skeleton of a prehistoric Giant Irish Deer has towered above visitors to the museum for over 30 years. But this week the ten-thousand year old Megaloceros giganteus has turned about and is now facing out of the window into Market Square. Could he be getting ready to pull Santa’s sleigh in a couple of weeks time?
Michelle Philips the museums Visitor services Manager comments,
“He may not have a red nose but he’d make an excellent Rudolph. His antlers are enormous and he would certainly have the strength to pull Santa’s sleigh. Right now the glass is frosted, but soon we hope to replace them so that people can look in to see him. And, of course, so he can look out!”
Keeper of Geology, Jon Radley, adds that many similar specimens were excavated during the nineteenth century, from layers of silt preserved beneath Irish peat deposits. They were acquired widely by museums and private collectors.
“Ours was donated in 1866 by the then vice-president of the Warwickshire Natural History and Archaeological Society, Richard Greaves. But In common with many specimens, the Warwickshire Museum skeleton is almost certainly a composite, constructed from the remains of a number of adult male skeletons.
"The specimen is a favourite of visitors, people like getting close up to such a magnificent animal – even if it is now just bones.”
The Grotto of Giving is Tuesday to Friday between 10.30 – 11.30 & 3.30 – 4.30. Visitors to it will be asked to bring a gift rather than receive one. Gifts will then be donated to local charities and good causes, whilst children bringing gifts will be given a token “thank you” gift by either Santa or one of his helpers.
The Megaloceros giganteus, the giant Irish deer, can be visited anytime during normal museum opening hours.