Vertebrates
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- Recently Asked
Bison sacrum?
I recently bought this bone.
I bought another as well at the same time. I was told it was mammoth, but i knew better, i think its some type of bison sacrum, but i was hoping you could tell me what type of bison its from, and possibly what kind of person i could talk to have it authenticated and aged?
Curator Response
Hi Savanna,
I agree with your assessment; based on this photo this does look like it belonged to a bison, a.k.a. buffalo. I'd encourage you to seek out a paleontologist at a museum closer to where you live. You're in a state with a wonderful natural history museum, the Field Museum in Chicago. There are probably other regional museums with paleontologists, too. A paleontologist who can see this specimen in person would be able to confirm the species ID and to assess whether it's likely old (i.e., from the Pleistocene) or of more recent origin.
Stay curious,
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Paul W. Collins, M.A.