Correction. It was found at the bottom of the Mtn. Still, about 7500ft. elevation. Relatively close to an area that was known to be occupied by an old settler and his squaw.
Animal scales? Ancient tree bark? Some critter from when it was deep in the ocean?? Yeah, I'd say it could easily have come from nature. The lines I see are uniform, but not perfect - as though whatever cast that print was wavy...like a snake's belly, for example.