Fossilized antler

[austinswamp]

Good evening, I found this about 9 ft below surface of an eroded wall alongside a creek in Austin, Texas. The piece appeared to be fairly long but it kept crumbling. Was hoping to get an idea of what it could possibly be. Thanks

[Benjaminpb]

Definitely looks like antler. Are you sure it's fossilized?

[austinswamp]

32 minutes ago, Benjaminpb said:

Definitely looks like antler. Are you sure it's fossilized?

Hope this helps

[Rockwood]

2 hours ago, austinswamp said:

surface of an eroded wall alongside a creek

Doesn't sound like the sort of environment that would be stable for 10,000 years to me.

[Benjaminpb]

It's so hard to tell from pictures alone. Have you done the hot needle test?

I think it's cool either way. I live in austin too and I've never found an antler....cool either way.

[JohnJ]

On 3/23/2020 at 10:43 AM, Benjaminpb said:

It's so hard to tell from pictures alone. Have you done the hot needle test?

 

Let's continue to dispel the myth that you can keep a needle hot enough to "test" for residual collagen in bone.  It would take a continuous heat source and a cleaned specimen to consider making any assumptions.

[hndmarshall]

perhaps a wood burning tool?...they are easy to find, hobby and craft stores have them.

That would stay hot and have a point.

[Plax]

bic lighter...