My student Joshua found a mysterious bone

[Lukepenketh]

Hi everyone,

 

I am a science teacher, and one of my bright young students Joshua is very interested in finding fossils.

 

Last week he found this fossilised bone in Halstock, Dorset. We have no idea what it is and would like your help!

 

The bone was at the side of a stream, where he has found lots of shell fossils previously.

 

It looks like some sort of femur, and is hollow. It has a small hole just above the inside of the joint.

 

We have attached some photographs, and can take more as required.

 

Any help you can give us would be brilliant!

 

Thanks,

Luke and Joshua

[Shellseeker]

Welcome to the Fossil Forum from Southwest Florida.   Joshua seems to have found a Horse radius bone,  Your view seems to be the distal end.  @Harry Pristis

[Harry Pristis]

I think this is the proximal end of a metacarpal, possibly cervid, but also consider sheep.  I don't have a good illustration for you.  Note the raised bead running the length of the interior of the bone.  This bead is what's left of the walls between two metacarpals which fused in the course of evolution to form what is informally called a "cannon bone."

Here's an illustration of a camel cannon bone to orient you.

 

HPPSdr.exe

[Lukepenketh]

Brilliant answers. Thanks you both

[Shellseeker]

8 hours ago, Lukepenketh said:

Brilliant answers. Thanks you both

Harry did all the insightful analysis. Luke, My biggest contribution was to know I should ask him to take a look.  In the end, the important thing is that you got an excellent response.