The British kept the head of an extinct predator under the bed for years

The couple, who decided not to advertise their names, kept a creepy souvenir under their bed for years, without even realizing that it was not just a strange skull, but a relic of incredible historical and financial value - the head of a marsupial wolf, completely exterminated in the last century.

The impetus to the realization of reality was the publication in the press. The family read a story about another collector who at a regular flea market bought an effigy with bulging eyes, mistaking it for a fox. Later, experts identified another marsupial wolf in it, who went under the hammer for a fabulous 74 thousand pounds (about 8 million rubles). Realizing that their dusty find was from the same opera, the British contacted appraisers.

The history of the skull from under the bed goes back to the beginning of the last century. In 1905, the trophy was delivered to Britain. According to legend, it was obtained by a farmer from Tasmania, shooting the animal. Modern technology has confirmed part of the myth: X-rays of the skull revealed the absence of a small bone fragment. Experts believe it's a hunter's bullet.

Now that the true value of the rarity has been proven, the family relic will go to auction. Bidding starts at the end of November, and given the prices for such artifacts, the final amount may be even more impressive.