The mummified claw of an upland moa, so perfectly preserved it still had muscle, skin, and sinew intact.

A FRIGHTENING giant claw from an extinct beast has been found mummified with flesh remaining – but it’s not the animal most would expect.

The mysterious animal part was unearthed on Mount Owen in New Zealand and has been extinct for nearly 800 years – making it a breakthrough discovery at the time.

a close up of a bird claw with a label on it

4
The terrifying claw was found in a cave in New ZealandCredit: Ancient Origins
a painting by heinrich harder shows a man and two birds

4
Human’s over-hunting and destructing the moa’s habitat led to their extinctionCredit: Getty

Experts were left baffled after discovering the fossilised remains of a moa bird in 1987.

The ginormous claw was found extremely well-preserved with skin still remaining, putting scientists in a great position to analyse the now-extinct specimen.

This specific beast is now only able to be seen in museums but has no revealed secrets of the bird that no one’s seen for nearly 1000 years.

The moa claw that was found is estimated to be over a shocking 3,300 years old.

But DNA analysis published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggested that the first beast appeared around a whopping 18.5 million years ago.

There were also at least ten species of moa’s but were made extinct in what was dubbed “the most rapid, human-facilitated megafauna extinction documented to date.”

Sub-species of the bird reached over a terrifying 10ft and was once the largest species of bird on the planet.

Related Posts

Exeter Cathedral door hole could be world’s oldest cat flap

BBC Records show payments to carpenters dating around 1598 A hole in a door at a cathedral is thought to be the world’s oldest cat flap. The…

The Brazen Bull and Other Ancient Torture Devices

We independently ᴀssess all our recommendations. Purchases through our links may earn us a commission. As human beings, we’ve been gifted with an amazing capacity for creativity…

A Central African Lyre Made from a Human Skull and Antelope Horns

A unique and intriguing artifact, the Central African lyre, stands out due to its unusual construction materials, including a human skull and antelope horns. This 19th-century instrument…

Women in Ancient Egypt

Women in ancient Egypt were regarded as the equals of men in every aspect save that of occupation. The man was the head of the household and nation, but women…

The Sad Story of Hitler’s Favorite Children

As a general proposition, loyalty is a morally commendable trait. Unless, of course, it is loyalty to an evil person and cause. Few examples highlight that exception…

Mingun Myanmar Guide – A Half Day Boat Trip From Mandalay

Mingun Myanmar Guide – A Half Day Boat Trip From Mandalay The ancient city of Mingun is a little explored gem near to Mandalay in Myanmar. Being…