Please Help Identify

[ConnieS]

Here's that item I found, it's in advanced stages of weathering from wave action, not too far from your find. But, it was not on that spit, I found it between the jetty and the sewage treatment plant. I know, here come the coprolite jokes.

I know the area. I would've picked up your fossil but I don't think I'd have recognized it as bone. I'd have thought it was a funky rock. Any idea what animal it's from?

[CH4ShotCaller]

I know the area. I would've picked up your fossil but I don't think I'd have recognized it as bone. I'd have thought it was a funky rock. Any idea what animal it's from?

I have no earthly idea... walrus. whale, mastodon, femur, humerus, tibia, fibula, ulna, radius...the list goes on. But, it's really worn. Your find is fantastic! I'm going back in a week or two. I remember seeing something across the water that really looked better than a plate of fried shrimp! Thought I saw a rise/incline with darker material that usually contains concretions! Will let you know, I had forgot about that until your post.

[ConnieS]

I'm going back in a week or two. I remember seeing something across the water that really looked better than a plate of fried shrimp! Thought I saw a rise/incline with darker material that usually contains concretions! Will let you know, I had forgot about that until your post.

I hope you find something equally fantastic! Just make sure you leave my agates alone.

[Roz]

Congratulations, Connie! I love your find..

[ConnieS]

Hi folks,

Not sure if anyone is still looking at this thread but thought I should update you with what little I now know.

I met with a Professor of Biology/Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Burke Museum in July. No question it's part of a cetacean skull. It's much smaller than he was thinking it was - definitely a baby/child from the dolphin/porpoise branch of the species.

And that's where the certainties end. Age? Really, really good question. And here's the problem: there has never been a vertebrate fossil from the Miocene era found this far south on the WA coast. All of our previous Miocene era vertebrate fossils have been found up on the top of the peninsula, near Port Angeles, Sequim, etc. So that made him speculate that it isn't nearly as old as we'd been thinking. More like 20,000 - 100,000 years old. Still a cool find, yes? But far from definitive because the *land* fossils found around the southern WA coastal areas are from that time period. Did my fossil get washed in by the ocean tide? That would mean it could've come from well out in the ocean floor. As we were heading to the elevator, the Professor stopped a colleague and quickly confirmed that no Miocene era vertebrate fossils have ever been found anywhere near Ocean Shores. Then he asked if the material out in the ocean near that area is Miocene and his colleague said yes. Soooo...we don't know!

Also a mystery is why it has so little of its external concretionary rock left intact. A really good explanation of why there's so little attached rock would be that my fossil did indeed come from far out in the ocean and the wave action eventually tumbled most of it off.

The Professor took high res photos of my fossil and said he would send them to the museum's whale specialist. If he/she is intrigued by the fossil and the location in which it was found, they'll ask me to bring it back for dating. Alas, as of 10/20 I've heard nothing from the Burke.

By far the best part of the adventure was getting to go into the basement of the Burke into a staff-only storage room. Could've spent days in there! I saw some really cool things.

Thanks again to everyone here. This has been a fun adventure!

Connie

Edited October 20, 2013 by ConnieS

[Auspex]

Thanks for the update!

I think there is some possibility that this is a well-traveled fossil, either from off-shore or up-coast.

[Roz]

Very cool and sure appreciate your updating!

[CH4ShotCaller]

I'm still looking for mine.... it's out there somewhere! Thanks for the update.