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Subject: Re: Mystery sacrum found on Oregon coast
Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:10:51 -0700
From: Dennis Griffin <[log in to unmask]>
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In March of 2009 a large animal sacrum was found on the central Oregon coast that
may have eroded out of a nearby archaeological site. This sacrum is quite large
(over 6" long) and appears quite old and may be from an extinct species to the
Pacific Northwest. This sacrum had been modified by humans at sometime in the past
to resemble an animal's face and had a naturally faceted garnet inset as an eye.
Two garnets were probably once attached to the bone but one was missing when it was
discovered. The Oregon State Historic Preservation Office has been attempting to
locate information about this bone since its discovery. We are currently seeking
information on a variety of topics including: 1) the animal species that the bone
belongs to; 2) sourcing the origin of the garnet used as an eye; 3) the type of
glue used to adhere the garnet to the bone; 4) determine if the cut marks used to
modify the bone were made with metal, stone or bone tools; and 5) if the artifact
is proved to be of non-historic manufacture, determine the age of the bone.
In order to gain assistance from other scholars in identifying the species this
bone belongs to I have sent out photographs of the sacrum to many individuals since
the sacrum's discovery. Unfortunately it is very difficult to determine a bone's
species without looking at the bone firsthand. Oregon SHPO has had a 3-D scan of
the bone created and we have placed it on a web page so that more people could
access it. This web page can be reached at:
http://www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/ARCH/arch_mysterysacrum.shtml. I would greatly
appreciate it if anyone can contribute any information to us regarding your
thoughts on the bone.
We are still uncertain if the sacrum is from a terrestrial or marine mammal though
most are leaning toward a marine mammal. The bone has been examined firsthand by
archaeologists Drs. Don Grayson (University of Washington), Madonna Moss
(University of Oregon) and David Yesner (University of Alaska, Anchorage) [in
addition to a number of paleontologists from the University of Oregon and the Burke
Museum] but its species remains uncertain. Does anyone have a comparative
collection of large mammal species that this bone can be compared with? Still
photographs, a revolving 3-D scan and a 3-D scan that can be manipulated by the
viewer are all included on the above website. Any information you can provide to us
would be greatly appreciated!
If you know of anyone that may have access to a faunal collection or expertise that
would help us in our quest please feel free to send them this message with the web
link. Thank you in advance!
\ Dennis /
Dennis Griffin, Ph.D., RPA
SHPO State Archaeologist
(503) 986-0674
(503) 986-0793, fax
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