Is this antler altered by man?

[NC field hunter]

 

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[Edmundruffin]

Rodents love to gnaw on bone. Some bone tools have ancient and modern gnaw marks. I can't tell if those lighter spots are scratches. One edge appears to have gnaw markes.

 

[larson1951]

does not appear to be

 

[Rww1987]

I have found a bone similar to the one you have I can't tell if it just a chewed up bone or a artifact

 

[NC field hunter]

You guys are saying bone. I thought antler, but really don't know. Can One distinguish between the two?

 

[Rww1987]

You guys are saying bone. I thought antler, but really don't know. Can One distinguish between the two?

Antler I think are solid and bones hollow or very porous on the inside

 

[NC field hunter]

Antler I think are solid and bones hollow or very porous on the inside

I know fresh sheds or racks have no marrow. I was wandering about old ones like this one?

 

[GatorBoy]

...

 

[The Grim Reaper]

I don't see anything that would lead me to believe that piece is an artifact.

 

[GatorBoy]

Ditto

 

[Harry Pristis]

Antler is not bone at all. There is no hollow cavity in antler.Its made of the same material as hair and toenails. If there is a cavity it is bone.

Antler IS bone. It is made of the same stuff as skeletal bones, hydroxyapatite and collagen, and it is NOT made of keratin.

Antler is living bone when the deer is in velvet. The bone dies (blood vessels deteriorate), the velvet is shed, and later the dead bone is shed.

Traces of the center cancellous bone which contained the marrow is usually to be found in the base of each antler. These base sections were favored for use as tool sockets.

 

[Talon]

Beat me to it Harry, and much more eloquently I must say! GatorBoy, you are thinking of horn, which is a layer of keratin over a live tissue and is not shed except in Pronghorn Antelope. Horn in all other cases continues to grow throughout their life.

 

[GatorBoy]

Forgive me.. there is no cavity it my antler tools.

 

[NC field hunter]

Forgive me.. there is no cavity it my antler tools.

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I don't think he is talking about the cavity. Horn continues to grow, as toe nails . Antlers are shed yearly . (off topic) I had one of my best days today. Fixing to post!! Also, I think my bone/antler was misunderstood. I found my answer. Thanks anyhow

 

[Harry Pristis]

Here's an example of cancellous structure inside a white tail deer antler:

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