jennifer. Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Looking for some information on or help with identifying an item found on an Alabama beach today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darbi Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 It's a bone but it looks modern to me. Burn a small part to see if it gives off burnt hair smell. If so then it's modern. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrehistoricWonders Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 Looks like a vertebra, I can’t help more than that unfortunately. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 I agree with modern bone. 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer. Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 15 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: I agree with modern bone. Thank you for replying. I’m new to all of this, so I have another question. What qualifies as a modern bone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer. Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 23 minutes ago, Darbi said: It's a bone but it looks modern to me. Burn a small part to see if it gives off burnt hair smell. If so then it's modern. Thank you for the reply and the suggestion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 7 minutes ago, jennifer. said: Thank you for replying. I’m new to all of this, so I have another question. What qualifies as a modern bone? Specimens are usually considered to be fossils if they are over 10,000 years old. 1 "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer. Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 7 minutes ago, Herb said: Specimens are usually considered to be fossils if they are over 10,000 years old. Is there a way to tell the age of this bone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herb Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 5 minutes ago, jennifer. said: Is there a way to tell the age of this bone? not cheaply "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DPS Ammonite Posted August 19, 2020 Share Posted August 19, 2020 (edited) 10 minutes ago, jennifer. said: Is there a way to tell the age of this bone? You sometimes can carbon date the protein in the bone. Or you can carbon date the surrounding sediments. Here is what a lab says about dating bones: https://www.radiocarbon.com/ams-dating-bones.htm Edited August 19, 2020 by DPS Ammonite My goal is to leave no stone or fossil unturned. See my Arizona Paleontology Guide link The best single resource for Arizona paleontology anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer. Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 6 minutes ago, Herb said: not cheaply Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer. Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 3 minutes ago, DPS Ammonite said: You sometimes can carbon date the protein in the bone. Or you can carbon date the surrounding sediments. Here is what a lab says about dating bones: https://www.radiocarbon.com/ams-dating-bones.htm Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer. Posted August 19, 2020 Author Share Posted August 19, 2020 14 minutes ago, jennifer. said: Is there a way to tell the age of this bone? Are there some bones this color normally? Or did something change the coloring? Or does the color change over time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClearLake Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 2 hours ago, jennifer. said: Are there some bones this color normally? Or did something change the coloring? Or does the color change over time? They are not that color when new or fresh but change color usually due to being buried in sediments or fluids and absorbing minerals from the surroundings. Quite often, bones will turn black or very dark over time and this indicates some age to them. The problem is, the color change does not happen uniformly in every bone but rather is highly variable depending on the circumstances. It could take a year, it could take a thousand years, it just depends. That is why it is very difficult to say how old it is without some sophisticated testing as mentioned above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer. Posted August 20, 2020 Author Share Posted August 20, 2020 1 minute ago, ClearLake said: They are not that color when new or fresh but change color usually due to being buried in sediments or fluids and absorbing minerals from the surroundings. Quite often, bones will turn black or very dark over time and this indicates some age to them. The problem is, the color change does not happen uniformly in every bone but rather is highly variable depending on the circumstances. It could take a year, it could take a thousand years, it just depends. That is why it is very difficult to say how old it is without some sophisticated testing as mentioned above. That makes sense. Your comment was helpful. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClearLake Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 My pleasure. You can sort of see the process happening in your bone. The outside is dark but the inside in much lighter and has been exposed due to breakage. Over enough time, the whole thing would probably take on that darker color. Happy beach hunting!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted August 20, 2020 Share Posted August 20, 2020 On 8/19/2020 at 4:26 PM, Herb said: not cheaply Starts out at about three hundred dollars, which is more than most folks care to spend to find out they have a hundred-year-old cow or horse bone. Also, carbon dating gives you a time range as a result, for instance, 1000 to 3000 years. The more precise you want that range to be, the more it will cost, and in many cases may not produce better results. Google it and read about it. Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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