Bone or Antler?

[pvdubbs]

Hello,  

I was just traveling for a while and I was in the Rocha Department of Uruguay an area north east of Montevideo on the coast.  I was walking along the severe hightide line of the shore just in front of a formation of a large sand dune area.  I came across this what I think to be bone but potentially an antler.  Uruguay was home to many Miocene Mammals and other fauna.  Any ideas what this may be from from?  Hard and heavy stone sounding when tapped.  Marrow fossilized within perhaps.  Any help is much appreciated!

 

Patrick

 

 

Edited March 13, 2019 by pvdubbs

[abyssunder]

Welcome to the Forum!
I've never seen an antler having that shape/characteristics, but I'm sure you have a bone fragment there.
Please wait other opinions.

[Rockwood]

Non antler bone. Antlers are supplied by blood vessels that leave their shape in the outside surface to a greater extent.

[pvdubbs]

Thanks for the info.  Any other features that help in the identification of what it may be from?  If you need any other pictures let me know!

[Fossildude19]

Broken bit of deer scapula?  

 

 

[Rockwood]

The relatively thin layer of dense bone does point to a bone that was removed from the impact something like a leg would need to withstand. 

[pvdubbs]

I looked at the scapulas and there are certain similarities.  But I was thinking it may be the top or base of a leg bone of some kind.  perhaps the point just before the joint?

[Fossildude19]

@Harry Pristis

[Rockwood]

4 hours ago, pvdubbs said:

perhaps the point just before the joint?

Dense bone almost exclusively I believe.

Edit: This does go too far, but I still think there would be more dense bone in something like that.