These pre-historic mammal bones could be yours after unusual donation to charity shop
These pre-historic mammal bones were donated to a East Anglias Childrens Hospices charity shop. They will be auctioned off at an upcoming fundraiser. Pictured are Sally Rix, left, with volunteers Nina Schiller and Antonia Coonan. Picture: Courtesy of EACH - Credit: Archant
All manner of creatures once roamed across Norfolk during the last Ice Age – and now the bones of some of them have wound up at a Norwich charity shop.
These pre-historic mammal bones were donated to a East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices charity shop. They will be auctioned off at an upcoming fundraiser. Picture: Courtesy of EACH - Credit: Archant
The bones were dropped off at an East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) shop in Unthank Road by a woman in late summer last year, and the charity has since had them examined by Norfolk Museums Service.
Sally Rix, EACH shop manager, said: 'Apparently the lady who dropped them off said they were genuine and hoped we could get some money for them. We were all very excited because we'd never had anything so usual or that ancient before.'
The bones will be auctioned off at a Framingham Earl's School House, when a team of specialists from Aylsham auctioneers Keys will be valuing items.
Although it is unclear exactly where these bones were found, north Norfolk's eroding coastline has yielded up scores of similar pre-historic treasures over the years, and in particular the area around West Runton is known as a fossil hunter's paradise.
These pre-historic mammal bones were donated to a East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices charity shop. They will be auctioned off at an upcoming fundraiser. Picture: Courtesy of EACH - Credit: Archant
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The museum service found them to be: 'mostly a mixture of medium-large mammal bones dating from 500,000 years to five million years - the Pleistocene/Pliocene epochs.
'There are also Belemnite guards - extinct squid-like molluscs - and fossilised Echinoids - sea urchins - both of which date back 70-100 million years in Norfolk.'
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Among the collection are mammoth molars, four specimens of deer antler and bison limb bones.
Ms Rix said: 'One of my volunteers offered to take them to Norwich Castle Museum. She loaded up her trolley and off she went. She stopped at a bakery on the way, where she was asked about her load - a very excited customer wanted her to stay longer because he was an anthropologist. We'd like to thank our anonymous donor and the museum for its time.'
The valuation day on Saturday, March 10 runs from 11am to 3pm. Visitors will be able to get a maximum of three items valued, at a fee of £5 per item. A box of low-value items kept together will count as one item. All proceeds will go to the Nook Appeal.
For more information and to offer items for auction, call 01508 494873 or email judyannsykes@btinternet.com. Alternatively, contact Jan Motley on 01508 495320 or at jan.motley@btinternet.com.
