Archaeologists discovered a giant polar bear skull in Alaska that may indicate the existence of a previously unknown subspecies - and perhaps be the fabled 'king bear' described in native accounts.

The bear's skull - the fourth largest ever found - was discovered on a beach in far-north Alaska after a storm in 2014 near archaeological site Walakpa, a human settlement site more than 1,000 years old.

The skull was determined to be around 1,300 years old and scientists are calling it 'The Old One.'

Archaeologists discovered a giant polar bear skull, pictured, that measures 16 inches from nose to back. Its facial features are similar to today's polar bears but its back is 'noticeably longer.' The skull was found on a beach in Alaska after a storm in 2014

A visual comparison between the unusual skull, left, and modern polar bear skulls, right, shows the marked differences

The skull was found near Walakpa, pictured, an archaeological site that dates to the more than 1,400-year-old Birnirk culture, which hunted whales from Siberia to Alaska

Researchers from the Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corporation work to excavate Walakpa - whose former residents could have shared the land with a 'king bear'

The bear's skull was found to be about 16 inches from nose to back and was stretched out more than those of today's bears, Western Digs reported.

Its facial features were found to be similar to today's bears but scientists said the back is 'noticeably longer' than those of comparable bears.

Doctor Anne Jensen told the news site: 'We don't know the exact size [of the whole animal], but we do know it was a huge bear.'

Jensen said it was possible that the skull was part of a 'subspecies' and that such bears could 'certainly' still roam the Arctic.

The discovery could shed light on Inuit accounts of 12-foot long bears, called 'king bears' or 'weasel bears' by Inuits and other native groups.

Inuit accounts describe 'weasel bears' and 'king bears' that measured 12 feet long, larger than today's seven- and eight-foot-long bears. Pictured: Polar bear Giovanna and her 14-week-old offspring at a zoo in Germany

Today's polar bears are between seven and eight feet long, National Geographic reports.

Walakpa, the site near which the polar bear skull was found, dates to the more than 1,400-year-old Birnirk culture, which hunted whales from Siberia to Alaska, according to Radio Canada International.