#27 • Fossilized Ice Age Walrus Skull

Part of September 2025 Premier Auction (live auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals)

High bid $4,700.00

Status: Sold

Category: Natural History

A rare survivor of the Pleistocene epoch, this walrus skull (Odobenus rosmarus) was recovered from thawing permafrost in Northwest Alaska, within the same stratigraphic layers that have yielded mammoth and other great Ice Age megafauna for the original finding party, an Alaska Native resident fossil hunting on private lands. The specimen displays richly mottled hues of orange and brown, the result of long mineralization within frozen ground over thousands of years. Such coloration adds to its visual appeal and distinguishes it as both a scientific and aesthetic treasure. The skull retains an impressive set of tusks, each extending to about 21 inches in length, with the skull itself measuring approximately 13.5 x 9 x 8 inches. The tusks are not permanently affixed, allowing the final owner to craft a mounting that best suits their needs. A loosely applied layer of shrinkwrap was wrapped around the tusk dentine to hold them in place for photographic purposes. While walrus remains from historic hunting are occasionally encountered, fossilized examples from Ice Age deposits are exceedingly scarce, particularly in this level of preservation with intact tusks. Their rarity is amplified by the challenging conditions of permafrost recovery and the limited window of opportunity before natural decay sets in once exposed.