The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) was a species of bear that lived in Europe during the Pleistocene and became extinct at the beginning of the Last Glacial Maximum, about 27,500 years ago.
Both the name "cave" and the scientific name spelaeus derive from the fact that fossils of this species were mostly found in caves, indicating this species spent more time in caves than the brown bear, which only uses caves for hibernation. Consequently, in the course of time, whole layers of bones, almost entire skeletons, were found in many caves.
Read more about Cave Bear: History of Cave Bear Discoveries, Cave Bear Worship
Famous quotes containing the words cave bear, cave and/or bear:
“I was thewed like an Auroch bull,
And tusked like the great Cave Bear;
And you, my sweet, from head to feet,
Were gowned in your glorious hair.”
—Langdon Smith (1858–1908)
“Do you know how poetry started? I always think that it started when a cave boy came running back to the cave, through the tall grass, shouting as he ran, “Wolf, wolf,” and there was no wolf. His baboon-like parents, great sticklers for the truth, gave him a hiding, no doubt, but poetry had been born—the tall story had been born in the tall grass.”
—Vladimir Nabokov (1899–1977)
“The young women [in England] are so mortally silly and insipid, that I cannot bear them. Upon my word ... I have scarce met with one worthy being spoke to. Their chat is all on caps—balls—cards—dress—nonsense.”
—Frances Burney (1752–1840)