fossilized tooth?

[Out Of Time]

I found this in a creek bed in northern California.

I think it might be a fossilized tooth or perhaps coral.

Please help me figure it out.

 

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[Perico]

Very beat up! Resembles horse. But not sure from pics.

 

[Out Of Time]

Found another today...

 

[Out Of Time]

Didn't mean to post the nutting stone.

How could fossilized horse teeth be in a California creek bed?

Is there time for a tooth to fossilize since re-introduction of the horse?

Or are these something else?

 

[Jason in Enid]

Could be something else but definitely teeth from a herbivore of some type.

 

[Perico]

The Horse originated in the Americas. Became extinct during the Pleistocene era. Brought back over to the America’s by the Spaniard’s during their worldwide explorations. Sorry for the poor generic explanation!

 

[Out Of Time]

Could be something else but definitely teeth from a herbivore of some type.

Horse is the closest match I can see.

I tried to burn them to see if I could smell an odour but nothing. I've read that is a way to test for fossilization.

So I think they are fossilized horse teeth.

The question for me is could they have time to fossilize since the reintroduction of the horse or are they very old indeed?

Also as I found two teeth in a single location, could there be more remains?

 

[Out Of Time]

The Horse originated in the Americas. Became extinct during the Pleistocene era. Brought back over to the America’s by the Spaniard’s during their worldwide explorations. Sorry for the poor generic explanation!

Concise and precise explanation, for which I thank you.

 

[CaptEsteban]

YEP. More facts;

PREHISTORIC HORSES AND HORSE EVOLUTION | Facts and Details

 

[Out Of Time]

YEP. More facts;

PREHISTORIC HORSES AND HORSE EVOLUTION | Facts and Details

Excellent info, thanks.

Still no idea if my finds are remains of early horse, or reintroduced spanish one.

I've read that fossilization can happen slowly or rapidly depending on conditions.

Is there time for post-extinction horse's tooth to fossilize in the local conditions?

 

[Jason in Enid]

Excellent info, thanks.

Still no idea if my finds are remains of early horse of reintroduced spanish one.

I've read that fossilization can happen slowly or rapidly depending on conditions.

Is there time for post-extinction horse's tooth to fossilize in the local conditions?

If they are fossilzed, they have to be from the early variety. Fossilization takes millions of years.

 

[Out Of Time]

If they are fossilzed, they have to be from the early variety. Fossilization takes millions of years.

If that's the case that's pretty amazing.

The two teeth were collected separately but from approximately the same location.

I wonder if there is more to be found?

 

[Jason in Enid]

If that's the case that's pretty amazing.

The two teeth were collected separately but from approximately the same location.

I wonder if there is more to be found?

The answer is YES! Fossils dont typically exist in ones or twos. When you are finding non-spitter teeth, you will likely have more and possibly parts of the skull and more. Likely other animal varieties there too. Just have to get your eyes right and spend time looking.

Heres a crazy thing; fossil bones typically come out of the matrix dark. Anything from tan to black. But unlike "rocks" they sun bleach, even within a few years. The ones you found have been exposed for a while. You said these were in a creek bed. is that a water way creek, or more like a rain wash?

 

[islamoradamark]

LOOKS like a big Tooff to me

 

[Out Of Time]

The answer is YES! Fossils dont typically exist in ones or twos. When you are finding non-spitter teeth, you will likely have more and possibly parts of the skull and more. Likely other animal varieties there too. Just have to get your eyes right and spend time looking.

Heres a crazy thing; fossil bones typically come out of the matrix dark. Anything from tan to black. But unlike "rocks" they sun bleach, even within a few years. The ones you found have been exposed for a while. You said these were in a creek bed. is that a water way creek, or more like a rain wash?

Not a waterway, but a seasonal creek - fast moving and full in winter but all but dry in summer.

 

[Jason in Enid]

I would recommend exploring up-creek. Think about what bones look like. Even go get some from a butcher. Look at how the outter layer looks, it's texture. Smash some open and look at how the interior of solid and marrow bones look, especially as fragments. Then go and explore. Walk slowly, examine everything. Search up-creek and up hill, especially any place that has exposed sidewalls (where dirt or rock collapsed and isnt covered with plants). Those teeth came from somewhere, but they havent been smashed up so they havent traveled a long ways.