Mineralized Bone Tools

Beuwulf · Oct 16, 2009

Since it was such a crappy day for hunting figured I'd post these, We've had these for some time but have never posted them. Most of the black or dark ones are mineralized fossil bones. The lighter colored tan ones are probabaly not fossil. One of the neat things about them is the way they sound when you pick up several at a time, they ring with a metalic sound. They would make great Wind Chimes.

The rock seems to be an abrading stone, if anyone knows different please let me know.

Enjoy!!!!

uniface · Oct 16, 2009

Tnmountains · Oct 16, 2009

Are they fossils"? Pretty cool. You think they were some type of tools?

Th3rty7 · Oct 16, 2009

Nice fossilized bone beuwulf. I like the abrader/ bone sharpening stone.

Beuwulf · Oct 17, 2009

TnMountains said:
Are they fossils"? Pretty cool. You think they were some type of tools?

Yes, there are several different types in the mix, awls, picks, digging sticks mostly but the ones that have grooves squarely cut or show signs of abrasion probably indicate they were used for sharpening or shaping. Most are are very dense due to the mineralization making them more like a Stone Bone. They were all found along a mile stretch famous for (Miocene) sharks teeth. Over the last 3-4 years We have probably collected close to a bushell basket of whale and other mammal bones from there in addition to the several thousand shark teeth, to bad sharks don't have bones we could have put a museum exhibit together. Also there was a Yacomaco Ossuary (sp?) not a half mile away. Lots of cultural items remain in the area.

thirty7, the abrader is one of my favorites, it's unique.

Tylocidaris · Oct 27, 2009

Man, I don't want to rain on your display...really. I've seen hundreds of pounds of mineralized bone fragments, which probably means nothing to anyone but me. However, most of your photos are of erosion worn, mineralized, fossil bone fragments that are very cool in their own right. Given where you found them, and their age (probably Pleistocene or Miocene), the likelihood of even one of the Pleistocene-aged pieces being a "tool" is like winning the lottery (maybe greater). Their worn character further diminishes the possibilities of identifying something as one of the "lottery winning" tools. Research the age of these time periods and you'll realize there were few to no humans there at those times. Yet, something else cool to know, is that the 4th and 5th pics appear to show a worn claw "core". You may want to post pics of it in the Fossil board. Besides the fragments of ribs and limb bones, I'm not sure of the last item from just one photo...it may be another nice fossil. With all due respect.

John

Tnmountains · Oct 29, 2009

Tylocidaris said:
Man, I don't want to rain on your display...really. I've seen hundreds of pounds of mineralized bone fragments, which probably means nothing to anyone but me. However, most of your photos are of erosion worn, mineralized, fossil bone fragments that are very cool in their own right. Given where you found them, and their age (probably Pleistocene or Miocene), the likelihood of even one of the Pleistocene-aged pieces being a "tool" is like winning the lottery (maybe greater). Their worn character further diminishes the possibilities of identifying something as one of the "lottery winning" tools. Research the age of these time periods and you'll realize there were few to no humans there at those times. Yet, something else cool to know, is that the 4th and 5th pics appear to show a worn claw "core". You may want to post pics of it in the Fossil board. Besides the fragments of ribs and limb bones, I'm not sure of the last item from just one photo...it may be another nice fossil. With all due respect.

John

Yes if you place the pictures in fossils maybe fossis or some of those guys will have some new ideas for your very cool bones.