Hi Allison,
to follow up Richards comment, Ungulates chew bones more frequently
than usually expected but the traces do look different. Check these
references for comparison:
# Brothwell, Don (1976): Further Evidence of Bone Chewing by
Ungulates: the Sheep of North Ronaldsay, Orkney. – Journal of
Archaeological Science 3, 179-182
# Sutcliffe, Antony J. (1973): Similarity of Bones and Antlers gnawed
by Deer to Human Artefacts. – Nature 246, 428-430
Christian
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Am 03.03.2014 um 22:57 schrieb Richard Wright:
> Allison
>
> I do not recall seeing marks quite like this on bone.
>
> However I am familiar with the irregular tracks on the surface of
> bones caused by termites, and hollowed out oval pockets in cortical
> bone (with discrete edges) caused by certain beetles of the
> domestid variety.
>
> Your markings look nothing like the marks of those insects.
>
> The sub-parallel nature of the grooves does suggest they are made
> by the cusps of teeth. Not curved teeth as such, but caused by the
> bone slipping while being chewed.
>
> Therefore cause not likely to be rodents, but perhaps a larger
> mammal or reptile. I understand deer chew bones, but am unfamiliar
> with their marks (I live in Australia).
>
> Do you ever get similar marks on the opposing edges of such marked
> bones?
>
> Richard
>
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