Leif, I think the article you are thinking of is:
Stewart, T.D. 1959. Bear paw remains closely resemble human bones. FBI Law Enforcement
Bulletin 28(11):18-22.
I don’t have a pdf of this, but there is also the more recent:
Sims, Margaret E. 2007. Comparison of Black Bear Paws to Human Hands and Feet. Identification Guides for Wildlife Law Enforcement No. 11. USFWS, National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, Ashland, OR.
You should be able to find this free online, or I can send a pdf directly to those interested. Maybe Danny Walker will also respond with his wildlife forensics manual?
The actual specimen looks like a second phalanx, rather than first phalanx, but not necessarily bear. Unfortunately, I have no comparative material available to check against.
Cregg
-----Original Message-----
From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Leif Jonsson
Sent: Monday, August 11, 2014 12:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] Human/bear phalanx?
Dear Angela,
I believe that it is a first phalanx of a bear. Both the proximal articular surface and the strength of the distal joint points to a strong grasping ability suitable for a claw.
I know that the american federal police (FBI) produced a manual for the distinction between human and bear feet bones. There had been many cases with presumed human remains found in nature and they turned out to be bear bones. Poachers had killed bears and skinned them leaving bodies minus head and claws. This happened in 1960ies or so. I have tried to get that manual but without success. If anyone has it and is able to make a pdf it would be fine.
Leif Jonsson / Gothenburg Museum of Natural History
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