Museum in the Park’s 10,000-year-old elk bones spark new research

The identification of 10,000-year-old elk bones in the collection of the Museum in the Park, Stroud, is opening new avenues for research into the prehistoric landscape of the Cotswolds. These bones, part of the museum's collection for nearly a century, have been confirmed to date back to around 8700 BC, thanks to a research project by prehistoric archaeologist Pete J.B. Moore, funded by the Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society.

The bones, which include a jawbone and a metacarpus from a mature elk, were discovered in 1854 at Dunkirk Mills, near Nailsworth, Gloucestershire. They were found in peat deposits, which once formed marshy wetlands adjacent to the Nailsworth Stream. These conditions would have been attractive to browsing animals such as deer and elk.

Elk were native to Britain until around 3000 BC but went extinct in southern England as early as 8000 BC. The discovery of these bones is particularly significant because they are among the few known examples from the Early Holocene in the Cotswolds. This presents new opportunities for research into the prehistoric environment of the Nailsworth Valley, which may have served as a refuge for elk in the face of over-hunting and a warming climate.

The bones were found alongside other animal remains, including auroch (the wild ancestor of modern cattle), red deer, and boar. Study suggests that they might have been part of a human rubbish dump, possibly as a result of hunting. Further research is needed to determine whether all the bones in the group date from the same period, which could provide more clues about their origins.

Little is known about the ancient ecology of the Cotswolds because its limestone geology does not support the preservation of organic evidence like plant remains and pollen. The preservation of the bones is due to the rare peat deposits in which they were found. These deposits offer researchers a unique opportunity to learn more about the vegetation of the Early Mesolithic period and the habitats where different species interacted.

As the present-day climate continues to warm, this research provides an opportunity to understand more about the history of survival and extinction in the local area.

Cllr Martin Brown, chair of the council’s Community Services & Licensing Committee said: 

“It’s fascinating to see that new findings are still being made within the museum’s collections. The museum is a wonderful resource in the Stroud district, and the council is proud to fund it, ensuring it remains free of charge to everyone.”

The elk bones are on display in the Foundations gallery at the museum.

The research was funded by a grant from the Bristol & Gloucestershire Archaeological Society. A preliminary account of the research has been published in its March 2025 newsletter, with a full report expected to be published in the society’s forthcoming annual journal, Transactions.

The Museum in the Park, managed by Stroud District Council in collaboration with the Stroud District (Cowle) Museum Trust, is situated in a Grade II listed 17th Century former wool merchant’s house. The museum tells the extraordinary and diverse history of Stroud district and has over 4,000 objects and artefacts on display – from dinosaur bones to one of the world’s first lawnmowers.