Old bones

[FlowerpotGirl]

Hi all

Perhaps I've watched too much NCIS, but I've dug up a small but thick bone and a jaw bone complete with a few teeth and hoping they aren't human.

They could be from a Muntjac or similar I guess but I'm no expert. Should I get someone to check they are animal bones? Our site is part of an old Iron Age Hill Fort and there is lots of evidence found of settlements so it could be someone from a long ago yester year's old Sunday lunch?

[piskieinboots]

Oooh how exciting! I'd get them checked out. This might help

[Nicos]

I'd love to see a piccie!
Might be easy to tell from the jaw/ teeth?

[Jay22]

That is exciting FPG, let us know what you decide! Something I've always wanted to do was go on an archaeological dig, would love to find something exciting!

[FlowerpotGirl]

Thanks all. I'll check that link out in a minute.

This is a picture of them....I felt a bit creeped out really, even if they turn out to be just old Sunday dinner leftovers

[veggiechicken]

My guess is the lower jaw bone of a pig!

[Nicos]

The first is deffo a lower jaw bone if a wild boar!

And the other one is the humerus ( part of the lower front leg) of a wild boar.
Nice find!

[ecudc]

I used to work for a client who lived in a former abbey and they are one of the few sites around the country who did not have to report finding human remains because of the burial sites in their garden unless you have dispensation all human remains have to be reported even if they are potentially ancient.

Yours don't look human and the jaw bone looks like it's got a tusk I.e. Wild boar but to be on the safe side why don't you phone your local police station (not via 999) and let them know the details. They can then decide if they want to peruse it.

[veggiechicken]

I'm surprised that there are allotments within the site of an Iron Age hillfort 'cos I thought that ancient monument sites were protected by law from digging.
Anyway, I'd be more inclined to report your "bones" to the local archaeological trust than to the police!

[FlowerpotGirl]

Thanks all. I emailed the local group who had written about it being an Ancient site and they forwarded my details to the local bone expert.

The bones are indeed from a Pig/Boar (well done everyone who said they were) and though old aren't of any national importance (haha). I'm going to bury them by the hedgerow and let the piggy Rest in Peace Now to find some priceless treasure.....

[Thelma Sanders]

I found a jawbone and teeth on my plot, one of the 'old boys' identified them as badger