Archaeologists Launch Quest to Find Burial Site of Fabled 19th-Century Elephant

South Gloucestershire archaeologists are on an intriguing mission to find the resting place of a fabled 19th-century elephant. A touring menagerie that captivated audiences in all of Britain included the amazing elephant called Nancy as its headline attraction.

According to local legend, Nancy died in 1891 after escaping and eating toxic yew leaves. Researchers now think Kingswood, a village with a lengthy history, may contain her last resting place, The Guardian reported.

Wessex Archaeology, recognized for its proficiency in examining animal bones, leads the investigation. Animal bone expert Lorrain Higbee, who works for the company, acknowledged her delight in the novel task. Wessex Archaeology terrestrial geophysicist Tom Richardson claimed that ground-penetrating radar would discover an elephant's tomb because of its massive size.

Elephant May Hold Rich Historical Information

Exotic animal menageries were popular Victorian and early 20th-century entertainment. These traveling exhibits included enormous collections of animals purchased from merchants in important port towns like Liverpool at a steep cost.

Nancy, the elephant in issue, was a member of the menagerie owned by Bostock and Wombwell. The menagerie made a temporary home close to Lawrence Hill station and drew tourists worldwide.

Camels, lions and lionesses, Bengal tigers, a holy Indian bull, leopards, bears, a hyena, a band of Russian wolves, and Nancy, a nine-year-old elephant, shared the limelight. According to reports from the Bristol Mercury in 1891, the animals were in excellent shape.

The hunt for Nancy's grave is part of a more considerable revitalization effort for Kingswood and the neighborhood. The South Gloucestershire council has committed £25 million ($31 million) to the project, which includes a partial pedestrianization plan.

Wessex Archaeology, a reputable archaeological and historical organization, is committed to working with developers, designers, and planners to preserve and delve further into the area's rich past.

Mysterious Ivory Rings Found in Anglo-Saxon Burial Sites

In a separate but equally fascinating study, researchers have made significant discoveries regarding puzzling "ivory rings" found in Anglo-Saxon burials throughout England, according to Live Science. The provenance of these rings, seen in over 700 early Anglo-Saxon burials, was unknown.

They may have been fashioned of elephant, walrus, or mammoth ivory. But current scientific methods used by the University of Sheffield have revealed their origin. The rings are now thought to have been made from African elephant ivory that came from eastern Africa, some 4,000 kilometers distant.

This finding suggests the presence of a sophisticated trading network that stretched over the Mediterranean, the Alps, and the Rhineland in the late fifth and early sixth century AD to reach England eventually. The comprehensive trade route highlights the period's great connections and cultural exchanges by representing one of the most significant known trading distances at the time.

Researchers looked at one of the "bag rings" found in an early Anglo-Saxon graveyard close to Scremby, a hamlet situated about 65 miles to the east of Sheffield.

The biomolecular data, including strontium studies, indicates the elephants' frequent residence in East African areas with young volcanic lithology. Additionally, radiocarbon dating results for carbon and nitrogen show that these elephants probably flourished in dry grassland or bushland habitats, per ScienceDirect.

While this new knowledge clarifies the history of the ivory rings, it also raises fascinating concerns about the relationships and modes of commerce between the Western areas and significant Eastern nations like the Kingdom of Aksum. These first discoveries could help explain how and why these exotic elements ended up in rural Lincolnshire female burials.