'Kerry Cow' bones revealed as ancient bear remains, challenging long-held theory on ...
ucd.ie
Bones labeled "Kerry Cow" for generations have turned out to be ancient bear remains — upending what researchers thought they knew about early Irish prehistory.
Misattribution BiasParadigm ShiftFossil Record AnalysisZooarchaeology

Theory Briefing
- Bones long identified as a mysterious Irish bovine have been reclassified as bear remains by new University College Dublin research.
- The misidentification had anchored a long-held theory about Irish prehistory, which the new findings now directly challenge.
- The reclassification forces a rethink of what animals — and possibly what people — were present in early Ireland.