PODIGGER 294 Posted May 20, 2020 This is another bone I picked up last week in the Peace River. I have been trying to ID it but think maybe it will have to be put in the "chunkasaurus" pile. I was leaning toward a section of sloth or other mammal tibia. Any help would be appreciated. Bone is almost 6" long x 3" at the wide end tapering to 1.25" and 2.5" high. The curvature and tapering of the bone is what led me to think possibly a section of sloth tibia. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PODIGGER 294 Posted November 25, 2020 Since I haven't had much success getting to the Peace River yet this season I have been revisiting some of the finds from last season in the hopes of figuring out an ID. This bone didn't prompt any responses on the first try and I've tried some more searching on line and in the Forum. I am now thinking maybe this is part of a mammoth/mastodon foot structure. Possibly a Mammoth metapodial? It was found in a spot that yielded numerous mammoth/mastodon bones including 4 carpals, a metatarsal, tip of a humorous and several others. Any input would be appreciated. @Shellseeker, @Harry Pristis, @Bone Daddy any ideas? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shellseeker 2,226 Posted November 25, 2020 Not a lot of help. I looked at your 1st 2 photos with no recognition, and then the stopped at the 3rd, thinking it have aspects of a foot bone. 6 inches would be max size for something like this metapodial. So I am thinking it is slightly further up to leg....What bone connects to the metapodial? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PODIGGER 294 Posted November 25, 2020 Tarsal? Comes from one of the few labeled skeletal diagrams I could find. I also saw a diagram you posted on a prior thread with letter designation on the foot bones. I found the same picture on line but couldn't locate the key to correspond to the letters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
garyc 318 Posted November 26, 2020 I may be way off, but the internal structure looks like some of the tortoise material I’ve found. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Harry Pristis 5,580 Posted November 26, 2020 I think it's a chunk of mastodon jaw, the scalloped bone representing sides of tooth roots. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PODIGGER 294 Posted November 26, 2020 Gentleman, thank you for your input. I am thinking of taking all the suggested possibilities to UF to see if Dr Hulbert can make an ID. Each of your opinions seems quite possible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GPayton 114 Posted November 27, 2020 Give us an update when Dr. Hulbert responds! I wrote the first Pleistocene fossil I ever found off as a chunkosaur long ago, but it looks exactly like what you have. Especially that grooved segment in the middle. I'll be sitting here with baited breath and my fingers crossed that Harry's right - a mastodon jaw, even if it's just a fragment, would be awesome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PODIGGER 294 Posted November 27, 2020 I'll post any response I get from Dr Hulbert. Last fall I asked him to look at another specimen found in the same spot and he identified that as part of a mammoth or mastodon jaw bone. Photo of that find below. In taking another look at that one I can see @Harry Pristis point of this being a similar smaller piece. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PODIGGER 294 Posted December 8, 2020 With the help of @digit I was able to reach Dr Hulbert who responded that the bone in question is a piece of mastodon jaw bone. He also stated he could not say with 100% certainty if it was from the mandible or maxilla. After consolidation it will go into the display case with the jaw bone section in the previous post. Thanks to everyone for their input. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
