Hello can someone please tell me how to identify if a Wolly Mammoth tooth is real or fake?

[TerahB]

Attached are a few pictures of woolly mammoth teeth. Some of the pictures are real (per the seller) and some are replicas. My question is without additional information (which I think a seller could fabricate) how can you tell the real from the replica?! 
 

Thank you! 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a fake mammoth tooth, though I'm sure they exist. 

Look at the wear and tear, breakages, matrix stuck to the tooth, but a good fake will always be hard to spot. 

It's great that some of the dealers are being honest about a tooth being a reproduction.

Edited December 14, 2022 by Tidgy's Dad

[Tidgy's Dad]

For me, I would be suspicious of the first one and the last one. 

Edited December 14, 2022 by Tidgy's Dad

[TerahB]

Yes for a novice like me it’s very difficult to tell! I of course just don’t want to pay for the price of an authentic one to find out it’s a replica. 

[JohnJ]

1 minute ago, TerahB said:

Yes for a novice like me it’s very difficult to tell! I of course just don’t want to pay for the price of an authentic one to find out it’s a replica. 

 

Post additional photos of one you are interested in and the seller says is real.

[TerahB]

[Randyw]

1,2,3,6 i’m thinking are fake. They resemble pictures of fakes I’ve seen online being sold as replicas.

@Tidgy's Dad theres hundreds of mammoth tooth replicas here in the states. A quick internet search will bring up pages of pictures and offers. I’ve looked becuase I’ve thought about getting a replica in the past but decided to get a partial real one instead.

[JohnJ]

3 minutes ago, TerahB said:

 

I think that one is real.

[fossilus]

I think that if someone were to create a copy that they would copy a more perfect tooth.  This looks rough, and real to me also.

[TerahB]

Ok there’s actually 2 separate teeth in the pictures above. One shows a green grass background and the other a white beige background. 

[JohnJ]

2 minutes ago, TerahB said:

Ok there’s actually 2 separate teeth in the pictures above. One shows a green grass background and the other a white beige background. 

 

I missed that, but I think the light background tooth is also real. 

 

You can place uploaded photos where you want using the "+" sign to help organize your post.  

[TerahB]

Oh ok thank you!! 

[fossilus]

The one with the white background may not be complete. I would be concerned that a plate or two had been knocked off the top edge in the first photo.

[TerahB]

Ok thank you for the help! 

[fossils-uk]

Why don’t you ask the sellers about the provenance of the items. ?

In 3 decades of selling online I have yet to see anyone trying to sell a fake mammoth tooth. 
 

[Ludwigia]

@Randyw I'd never heard of "fake" mammoth teeth before. Are these ones (replicas) you are talking about casts? What kind of material are they made from?

[Troodon]

There are a lot of replica companies out there and most sell mammoth teeth. 

This one identical to the one in the very first photo shown and is cheap.  @Randyw   identified it on his list.

[TerahB]

Hi all, the first 3 pictures in my original post are replicas. The remaining 3 are all stated real by the seller.

 I was just curious on how to spot a replica if the seller tries to list it as real. I understand context matters but again I feel that there’s a chance the information could be fabricated. To me and my untrained eye they all look similar enough to be real so I’m trying to learn how to spot a replica or fake. I did do a search for fossil websites in hopes the merchandise would be authentic but with prices and quality all over the place I’m still at a loss. In addition if people go to such great lengths to make fake bones and teeth from other animals I don’t see why they wouldn’t start with mammoth teeth as well, especially since I’ve seen teeth for thousands of dollars. 
 

I know we’re not allowed to post individual prices but these examples range (prices removed) so I would think there would be interest in selling fakes as real. 

[Randyw]

9 hours ago, Ludwigia said:

@Randyw I'd never heard of "fake" mammoth teeth before. Are these ones (replicas) you are talking about casts? What kind of material are they made from?

They are various materials. Mostly resins but other materials also. In the picture i posted they showed company names but I blacked them out per forum rules. Thankfully most are being sold as replicas.