It seems odd to blog from Canada about a case in Wales! That’s what this is, though—the saga of the
Sarich Skill.
This partial skull was found on a beach in South Wales and
sent to me for further study. The fellow
who found it simply was hoping for identification. We were most grateful to receive this gift,
as it gives an opportunity to investigate and to learn basic forensic
identification methods.
The first thing we looked at was the general shape. The skull has been photographed and measured
from all angles. At first glance, it appears
to be a goat, but as it weighs 0.4kg (400 grams) and horn tip to horn tip is
only 12.5 cm, that may not be the case.
If there was a jawbone and a few teeth, the positive
identification would be much easier.
Additionally, since the skull probably spent a great deal of time in the
water, its weight is likely affected by sediment and fossilization. A normal goat skull weighs about 400 grams
with organs and flesh intact and without horns.
Is it a goat? The
angle of the horns and the flat space between them counter indicates most
breeds of goats. This small size makes us reluctant to label it bovine—a bovine
species mature enough to have horns should be much larger.
A sheep perhaps? The eye sockets of a sheep face sideways
and the orbital sockets on this specimen do not appear to. Forward facing eyes are a characteristic of a
predator; binocular vision helps focus on the prey. Sheep horns do tend to be separated by a flat
space as is present on this skull.
Specialists from several Canadian Universities have examined
the skull and to date it remains unidentified.
Mr. Sarich has donated the skull for further study and for use in educational
events regarding cryptozoology.
It might well be a goat or a sheep. Right now, as an unknown animal, the Sarich
Skull is our very own cryptid.
Hi. I can tell you it's a goat skull. I've come across a few from the Welsh mountains over the years -and one on a beach after the goat had fallen from a cliff and rotted on the rocks.
ReplyDeleteSorry, meant to send you a link:http://vivienb.blogspot.com/2009/09/goat-skull-in-watercolour-and-coloured.html
ReplyDeleteThanks Terry! Generally this is what we think as well, but some scientists believe that the shape of the horns and their relative angle to the top ridge is different from Welsh (and other) goats. The link is great and I am adding it to the research file.
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