my first thought was actually cetacean pelvic bones. but they are definitely not bone, nor antler (sorry Greg).
and not to throw people off the track too much by the context (fish next in 12 m of water): most anything could show up, including deer---we've recovered a swan humerus as well as some chicken bones from nets 25 m deep (though I later found out the KFC bones were planted).
thanks for the opinions.....
---mike
Michael A. Etnier, PhD
Applied Osteology
Bellingham, WA
www.appliedosteology.com
and
Department of Anthropology
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
http://faculty.washington.edu/metnier/
-------- Original Message --------
> From: "P Lange" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 9:45 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] ID help---poss. cartilaginous fish
>
> Well, I thought they looked like mammal ribs. Anyone else wants to give a wild guess?! Over to you...
> Priscilla
> Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: GREGORY CAMPBELL <[log in to unmask]>
> Sender: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:36:26
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: GREGORY CAMPBELL <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: [ZOOARCH] ID help---poss. cartilaginous fish
>
> Dear Zooarchers: I'm willing to look stupid in public. These look like cervid antlers with the tines removed/busted off (attachment points at top ends in the picture), with most of the structure consumed by marine bacteria. I would guess small whitetail deer (a bit small for full adult), perhaps pronghorn (not so likely); not enough basal tines for elk.
Greg Campbell
The Naive Chemist
________________________________
From: Michael A. Etnier <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Monday, 14 November 2011, 16:08
Subject: [ZOOARCH] ID help---poss. cartilaginous fish
I need some ID help with this matched pair of elements. They were
recovered from a fishing net in about 12 m of water, in Puget Sound. I
think they are from a large cartilaginous fish, but I don't have a clue as
to what element they might be, or what species.
They are completely hollow, with a wall thickness of about 3 mm, ossified
cartilage.
Photos posted at:
http://alexandriaarchive.org/bonecommons/items/show/1814
Thanks,
Mike
Michael A. Etnier, PhD
Applied Osteology
Bellingham, WA
www.appliedosteology.com
and
Department of Anthropology
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
http://faculty.washington.edu/metnier/
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