A companion piece to the 2024 early-paleontology inspired Patreon exclusive art, It Is Better To Say You Do Not Know is named for the translation of the Latin phrase included in the art.
The jumble of megafauna bones depicted, The Magdeburg Unicorn, was discovered and described by a German scientist in the mid 1600s. A mathematician and physicist, to be exact, not a biologist or (early) paleontologist. Rather than passing on the findings to someone more familiar with animal anatomy, however, this scientist leaned into local folklore, and declared the bones (including a narwhal tusk, woolly bison skull, and woolly mammoth legs) to be the remains of a two-legged unicorn.
Now argued to be the worst paleontological depiction in history, the Magdeburg Unicorn is a laughable but good reminder that it’s wiser to admit when you’re out of your depth, and not be pressured to speak up on things until you’re educated on them!
Printed in the US on recycled heavy cardstock. 5" x 7”
As with all Patreon designs, this item is single-run only, and once sold out, will not be restocked.
A companion piece to the 2024 early-paleontology inspired Patreon exclusive art, It Is Better To Say You Do Not Know is named for the translation of the Latin phrase included in the art.
The jumble of megafauna bones depicted, The Magdeburg Unicorn, was discovered and described by a German scientist in the mid 1600s. A mathematician and physicist, to be exact, not a biologist or (early) paleontologist. Rather than passing on the findings to someone more familiar with animal anatomy, however, this scientist leaned into local folklore, and declared the bones (including a narwhal tusk, woolly bison skull, and woolly mammoth legs) to be the remains of a two-legged unicorn.
Now argued to be the worst paleontological depiction in history, the Magdeburg Unicorn is a laughable but good reminder that it’s wiser to admit when you’re out of your depth, and not be pressured to speak up on things until you’re educated on them!
Printed in the US on recycled heavy cardstock. 5" x 7”
As with all Patreon designs, this item is single-run only, and once sold out, will not be restocked.
