TheresabOs Posted April 12, 2023 Share Posted April 12, 2023 We found this bone while on a walk on the beach next to our home. We recently had a series of storms that surged through the seawall and tore it apart, as well as sent a lot of things downstream. This was just to the right of a rumor river mouth run off on the beach can you help me figure out what it is? There are tons of fossils in the area in the cliffs at her usually shells and small sea animals but I have never seen anything resembling something coming from a mammal before especially the size. I'm also curious how old it may be because it's fossilized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 12, 2023 Share Posted April 12, 2023 Where in California was this? It's kind of a big state. Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Cole Posted April 12, 2023 Share Posted April 12, 2023 It is the distal end of a mammal humerus. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheresabOs Posted April 12, 2023 Author Share Posted April 12, 2023 12 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Where in California was this? It's kind of a big state. Santa Cruz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClearLake Posted April 12, 2023 Share Posted April 12, 2023 Agree with @Brandy Cole, the distal end of a humerus. And looks similar to horse, about the right size also. But there could be other ice-aged mammals that I am not familiar with that have a similar shape. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Cole Posted April 12, 2023 Share Posted April 12, 2023 @ClearLake I agree it looks similar to horse. I also could not rule out modern cow. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClearLake Posted April 12, 2023 Share Posted April 12, 2023 13 minutes ago, Brandy Cole said: I also could not rule out modern cow. Yes, you could be right. I went out and compared the two I have. Unfortunately my horse is articulated so its a bit tougher to do a side by side, but... Horse on the left, cow on the right. Here, horse on the right, cow on the left. You can see the horse has the sharper "ridge" running down the lower part. I do not see this on the one posted, but it is pretty water worn so maybe its smoothed out or maybe it is not a universal horse feature. Could also differ due to age or size of muscle attachments, or any number of other things I suppose. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
val horn Posted April 12, 2023 Share Posted April 12, 2023 I was thinking cow. Itlooks modern to me but this can be tested with s burn test hold at end in a flame from the stove andsee and smell if it burns fresh bone chars and smells bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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