Yeah, I thought about asking them if I could have it. They definitely were very interested, but for an amateur anthropologist like me, it was like finding gold!
Bone found in hole in neighbors yard
- Thread starter skaught
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Yeah, I thought about asking them if I could have it. They definitely were very interested, but for an amateur anthropologist like me, it was like finding gold!
Heres some stuff that might help, I found this while attempting to look for a more accurate Femur.
The other bone looks similar to a component of a Tarsal. Possibly if not a dog/wolf, but more likely Buffalo.
In any case if something got stuck in a swamp, you can be pretty sure that it wouldn't last long, other animals would have come and carried off what they could take, which is why you'll not necessarily find a full skeleton.
If you can't visably identify it there are some labs that can do tests for a nominal fee to at least identify what animal type it was, possibly even what age it is.
Oh one extra thing, for future junior forensics events, remember when taking a picture to place somethign into shot that can be used to gauge the overall size of what it is you are taking a picture of. This could be a Ruler, tape measure or even a large coin.
The other bone looks similar to a component of a Tarsal. Possibly if not a dog/wolf, but more likely Buffalo.
In any case if something got stuck in a swamp, you can be pretty sure that it wouldn't last long, other animals would have come and carried off what they could take, which is why you'll not necessarily find a full skeleton.
If you can't visably identify it there are some labs that can do tests for a nominal fee to at least identify what animal type it was, possibly even what age it is.
Oh one extra thing, for future junior forensics events, remember when taking a picture to place somethign into shot that can be used to gauge the overall size of what it is you are taking a picture of. This could be a Ruler, tape measure or even a large coin.
You need to photograph it against a ruler for some scale. Your hand in post#1 provides some scale, but a precise measurement can only help with identification.
That said, I'm placing my $ on dog.
That said, I'm placing my $ on dog.
It definately needs a ruler or a dollar bill by it for scale. You describe the place as a lot. Do you know where the old farmstead was?
It doesnt show chewing marks or wear on the ends, which indicates it did not sit on the surface and become buried slowly over time.
Could be someones hunting dog buried in a favorite hunting spot.
It doesnt show chewing marks or wear on the ends, which indicates it did not sit on the surface and become buried slowly over time.
Could be someones hunting dog buried in a favorite hunting spot.
I'm not sure about buffalo: here's one from an extant buffalo and it looks curved:
http://www.lizzyshealthypetfood.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1280
Then again...what I think is the upper epiphysis of the femur (which now I'm not sure about)...looks totally fucked. Almost looks worked, that joint end. Not exactly feline, is it? The smaller bone might be a bloody tarsal or something. Maybe it is a bloody buffalo after all.
http://www.lizzyshealthypetfood.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1280
Then again...what I think is the upper epiphysis of the femur (which now I'm not sure about)...looks totally fucked. Almost looks worked, that joint end. Not exactly feline, is it? The smaller bone might be a bloody tarsal or something. Maybe it is a bloody buffalo after all.
Huh. Kinda looks like a buffalo metacarpal. Why the hell did I say it was a femur?
http://www.arrowheads1.com/artifactinfo/bisonbonepics/BF-cpmc.jpg
http://www.arrowheads1.com/artifactinfo/bisonbonepics/BF-cpmc.jpg
You’re in Minnesota? Perhaps you could email MSU. The MSU E-Museum might be a good place to start. They appear to have an interest in forensic anthropology (just the sort of expertise you need).
Emuseum ‘at’ mnsu.edu
My bad, I initially presumed it to be a dog/wolf femur, however moved towards buffalo component and what you've found looks on the money.
Here are some buffalo femurs for comparison:
Skaught's image:
One from Google:
Interestingly, they are sold for wolf/dog treats...
Hard to tell without reference scales, but it does look like Skaught's is, in fact, considerably smaller. As someone else said, perhaps it was a juvenile...
Skaught's image:
One from Google:
Interestingly, they are sold for wolf/dog treats...
Hard to tell without reference scales, but it does look like Skaught's is, in fact, considerably smaller. As someone else said, perhaps it was a juvenile...
Oh - well no worries anyway.
Here are some buffalo femurs for comparison:
Skaught's image:
One from Google:
Interestingly, they are sold for wolf/dog treats...
Hard to tell without reference scales, but it does look like Skaught's is, in fact, considerably smaller. As someone else said, perhaps it was a juvenile...
Hey! That's my ref.
Anyway, I don't think it's a femur, but a metatarsal. The articulating surface is just too funky. It looks almost like someone worked the ends into a mashing tool, which isn't femurish.Here are some buffalo femurs for comparison:
Skaught's image:
One from Google:
Interestingly, they are sold for wolf/dog treats...
Hard to tell without reference scales, but it does look like Skaught's is, in fact, considerably smaller. As someone else said, perhaps it was a juvenile...
Yeah, i don't know about this. They look kinda curved. This bone is very straight.
Actually I think it almost looks small.
http://www.fossilsonline.com/index....id=973&zenid=c98fce337e8e53b3ee0ab42b14c9abe6
Hehe. Maybe it's not a bison after all. :shrugs: Or a very young one. But I do think it's a metatarsal.
http://www.fossilsonline.com/index....id=973&zenid=c98fce337e8e53b3ee0ab42b14c9abe6
Hehe. Maybe it's not a bison after all. :shrugs: Or a very young one. But I do think it's a metatarsal.