pleing1 Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 Hey everyone! I found this bone buried in silt while snorkeling about 6ft underwater (freshwater). I have no idea how old it is or what animal it belonged to. I'm wondering if anyone here can tell me the best way to clean it at home and how I should preserve it. I'm assuming it could be pretty old since the cold freshwater preserves things so nicely. Thanks, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichW9090 Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 (edited) Would be interested to see a scale in this photo........ and to know where it was collected. Edited July 9, 2013 by RichW9090 The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleing1 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 I found it in the boundary waters of north Minnesota Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleing1 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 I'm guessing it's a deer bone. My only thought behind that reasoning is that when the lakes freeze, wolves herd deer onto the ice. The deer have no traction on ice so the wolf gets its kill. Then when the ice melts, the bones sink. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichW9090 Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 It is a cervid metatarsal, but it appears to be elk. At 17 inches in length, it is far to long to be a deer. It appears to be rather gracile, but I think that is because the bone is weathered, and much of the outer surface of the shaft is gone. The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted July 9, 2013 Share Posted July 9, 2013 As far as preserving it, once it has dried out, a thorough basting with a very thin solution of Duco cement in acetone (well ventilated area only!) seems to be one recommended tactic. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleing1 Posted July 9, 2013 Author Share Posted July 9, 2013 Thanks for the feedback and advice! How would you recommend I clean it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichW9090 Posted July 10, 2013 Share Posted July 10, 2013 With a soft brush, if the surface is as flaky as it appears to be. The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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