Thanks Greg -- but no, we tried this too up in the Phys. Anthro lab: it
isn't a gorilla, a chimp, or an orangutan either. You see why this is such
a poser!! -- DB
> Dear Deb: great ape (Pan?) big toe?
>
> Greg Campbell
> The Naive Chemist
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Tuesday, 21 February 2012, 22:17
> Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] Mystery Phalanx -- Can Anyone I.D. This?
>
> Right, Shiela; sorry, folks, I forgot to say we had also compared it to an
> ostrich, but an ostrich it ain't. Also, Nerissa mentioned it looked
> digested and I agree with that. It would sure match a human toe-bone if
> not for the big extensor process, but we had Dr. Dave Frayer our friend
> the physical anthropologist at K.U. take a good look at it, and he insists
> that the process is not composed of pathological bone, i.e. it is not an
> arthritic human. Kind of a relief then if it's digested, I guess. Also,
> I'll mention it isn't too far from lion but again, lions don't have that
> long extensor process either. Birds do -- but what bird has the phalanges
> curved the wrong way, i.e. upward?
>
> So, we are still in the dark -- do we have any archaeo-herps on list, who
> can opine on tortoises, maybe African ones?? -- DB
>
>
>> Unlikely I think - they are a bit odd and variable I know but even the
>> smallest are over 50mm - the largest are over 90 and resemble camel if
>> anything. The shape is also different - even on the closest one it is
>> very broad distally with deep lateral depressions and the proximal
>> almost featureless - can send photos if needed.
>> Sheila
>>
>> SH-D ArchaeoZoology
>> http://www.shd-archzoo.co.uk
>>
>>
>> On 21/02/2012 19:03, Katherine M. Moore wrote:
>>> I'm having trouble with the scale but think you should try ostrich.
>>>
>>> Good luck!
>>> Kate Moore
>>>
>>>
>>> Quoting [log in to unmask]:
>>>
>>>> Dear Zooarchers: I've got a real poser of a phalanx and would greatly
>>>> appreciate help in identifying it. The bone was excavated from a
>>>> 2nd-century ditch at Roman Vindolanda in Northumbria, England.
>>>> Measurements are given on two of the views (posted at Bone Commons,
>>>> see
>>>> link below).
>>>>
>>>> Before appealing to the List, we have extensively compared this bone
>>>> and
>>>> are certain that it is not human, although it does fairly strongly
>>>> resemble a human toe-bone. Neither is it a bear, a big badger, or any
>>>> type
>>>> of porpoise, dolphin, seal, or manatee. Neither is it a lion, a big
>>>> lynx,
>>>> or a cheetah. It is bird-like in some ways -- particularly in the
>>>> configuration of the proximal end, with the shallow double facets and
>>>> the
>>>> long extensor process, but it is not a swan, eagle, gyrfalcon, large
>>>> owl,
>>>> or large vulture.
>>>>
>>>> Could it be a tortoise? Never mind that Britain has no native
>>>> tortoises --
>>>> perhaps the Romans imported one as a trophy or as "smoked leg of
>>>> tortoise."
>>>>
>>>> Here's the link to see the images -- many thanks for taking a look!
>>>>
>>>> http://alexandriaarchive.org/bonecommons/items/show/1830
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Zooarchaeology Laboratory
>>> University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
>>> 3260 South Street
>>> Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
>>>
>>
>>
>>
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