Best person to contact would be John Currey at York (biology I think). He has tested all sorts of differen tissues.
Jonathan
-----Original Message-----
From: A. G. Atkins [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 05 July 2000 12:33
To: [log in to unmask]
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Hippopotamus tusk:mechanical properties
I have had an enquiry from an Egyptologist about an arefact made of a
slice of hippopotamus tusk on which there are hieroglyphs of various gods
and goddesses to do with childbirth.
It seems that the artefact might have been loaded in 3-point bending and
the question is 'what load would have broken it?'
Does anyone have any information about strength/toughness...of
hippopotamus tusk(called 'ivory').Indeed what's known about elephant
ivory?George Jeronimidis has pointed out to me that although tusks are
teeth,there's no hard coating as on 'normal' teeth,which is why the
material can be carved into billiard balls and so on.
Be glad to hear from you all out there!
Tony Atkins
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