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The mystery of Penrith's elephant to be revealed

The tooth was first found in 1921 Credit: Eden District Council

Tests could soon reveal the age of an elephant's tooth that was excavated at Penrith Castle almost a century ago.

First found in the moat bottom below the north east of the castle in 1921, the tooth has only ever been viewed as a curiosity, and not as an artefact of historical significance.

But now, curator Dr Sydney Chapman believes dating it could provide evidence of the Castle's history, including what kind of people once lived there.

“A medieval date might suggest an object once owned by a person of high status associated with the Castle, and we anticipate Richard, Duke of Gloucester being proposed as a candidate if the date fits.

The Middle Ages saw a cult of relics and fabulous objects with which archaeologists recently linked the finding of an elephant’s bone in Chester.

A more modern date, however, is likely to result in more mundane solutions, a link with a travelling circus being high on the list”.

– Dr. Sydney Chapman, Curator