Rob Costlow Reconstruction Rarest

Reconstruction of the head of Equus lambei, a small extinct Ice Age horse, using ancient bones and a skin found in the permafrost at Last Chance Creek near Dawson City, Yukon. This horse was one of the most common large animals during the Ice Age in Beringia, which included ice free northern Yukon. It probably arose 200,000 years ago and died out 12,000 during the time when most of the large Ice Age animals became extinct. It was a little horse, only around 12 hands tall. It most likely was a pony of pony type, more like the primitive ponies of Europe than the Przewalski's horse in appearance - it was lighter in build and had pony character facial features. It most likely was a dun silver dapple with the same bay dun colouration as the Przewalski's but with a pale mane and tail, a very pretty little horse. Most likely all individuals had a similar colour, when there is a lot of predation there is a selection against any animals that are different since these are the ones predators are most attracted to.

This is why some of the most ancient breeds of horses, the Pzewalski, the Exmoor, the Carmargue and the tarpan are all of one colour. These little horses would have been quite striking as they wandered in large herds throughout the plains of Beringia. Now on to the next sculpture, a much more complex one showing one or two horses being chased by large Ice age wolves.wolf tooth marks were found on the skin, plus the hair found in the stomach is most likely that of a foal. Before I start I will see if some DNA work can be done so my sculpture can be more accurate. Music by Rob Costlow (I do) licensed from Magnatune.