Jaw section- could this be bison?

[sharko69]

Found this today in North Texas creek that I know has produced bison skulls in the past. Would love to think this is bison. Have a cow jaw and these teeth are larger. I will leave it to the experts. 

[jcbshark]

Not sure if it's bison but looks bovid to me

[Rob Russell]

Definitely bovid.  I see the isolated sylids on the teeth.  As big and robust as it is I'd say bison is a good bet.  

[sharko69]

4 hours ago, Rob Russell said:

Definitely bovid.  I see the isolated sylids on the teeth.  As big and robust as it is I'd say bison is a good bet.  

Thanks. If it is bison, it would make my day. Cool chunk either way.

[JohnBrewer]

@Harry Pristis

[Max-fossils]

For sure a great find!

 

Obviously, it would be even cooler to know if it is fossilized or not. Could you therefore please try a flame test?

Basically, light a lighter underneath the jaw. If the jaw burns (quickly set the fire out, obviously), it means that this is modern. If it doesn't, then you probably have a fossil bison jaw!!! It will be late Pleistocene/early Holocene in that case. But with those white teeth, I do doubt it being fossilized...

 

It still doesn't hurt to do the test.

 

Best regards,

 

Max

[ynot]

2 minutes ago, Max-fossils said:

. If the jaw burns (quickly set the fire out, obviously), it means that this is modern.

When doing a flame test the object is to smell the collagen  (modern bone will smell like burnt hair), not to set the piece on fire.

Hold the flame against the piece for a short time and then smell it.

[Max-fossils]

16 hours ago, ynot said:

When doing a flame test the object is to smell the collagen  (modern bone will smell like burnt hair), not to set the piece on fire.

Hold the flame against the piece for a short time and then smell it.

Oh. Thanks for letting me know 

 

But I do know that often modern bones catch fire, as I've done it myself, which is why I gave this reason. Surely though the collagen test is more reliable.

 

Out of pure curiosity, do you know if this test also works with modern/fossil seashells? As in, would a modern seashell also release that scent? Or is collagen only present on bones?

[ynot]

34 minutes ago, Max-fossils said:

do you know if this test also works with modern/fossil seashells? As in, would a modern seashell also release that scent? Or is collagen only present on bones?

As far as I am aware - no, it does not work for shell.

Collagen is present in bone , hair, feathers and scales.