Bone, Tusk or Dust - ZandMotor NL

[MickeyH]

Hi Everyone,

I am completely new to the forum but have loved fossils since I was a kid holidaying on the Jurassic Coast in the UK. I was searching for potential fossil sites in the Netherlands and went to Zandmotor (Den Haag) hoping to discover a complete Mammouth Skull. Sadly this hasn't happened yet, but I found numerous interesting finds (which I photographed below).

My girlfriend and I have managed to identify most of them however I am having trouble identifying the second picture of the (brown pointed pieces). I think they could be fossilised wood (they look wooden to me but then part of me thinks they could be bone - ribs perhaps). Of course, they could just be nothing at all. My Girlfriend's 9-year-old daughter now has to know what they are, so I thought I would ask some experts.

I would love any input on this as this is not something I have encountered before.

Any help would be gratefully received.

Many thanks in advance

Mickey

[Jelte.]

That brown thing is Fossil wooth

[MickeyH]

Thats amazing thanks so much for your help!! Much appreciated.


Mickey

[sjaak]

All the brown stuff is indeed wood with iron in it. Age is unknown. It’s difficult to preserve and the iron will come out if wet. The rock and mammal bone are what they are. I can’t help you with the shells.

PS
There is still lots of mammoth stuff to be found on the Zandmotor if you look regularly.

[MickeyH]

That is so great thanks, Niels. I wondered why they were so brown, the iron makes a lot of sense. I have never found fossilised wood before. I will probably go back soon, the mammoth stuff is the holy grail at the moment! I will take the GF + child back soon!

Have great day

[MickeyH]

Sorry one more question @sjaak if you don't mind.

Is there any obvious way to indicate the age of the mammal bone (aside from Radio Carbon dating?!) by looking at the structure of the bone? I took this macro photo of the bone to study the structure but it didn't tell me much other than its not fossiled I think?

Would you have any thoughts on this?

[sjaak]

With knowledge of Zandmotor fossils you have a rough indication:
- brown bone: Pleistocene (mammoth era)
- black bone: early Holocene (hunter gatherer era)
- white or spotty bone: late Holocene to recent

Your bone looks like the last category.

The above is only a rule of thumb. There are lots of exceptions and sometimes much older fossils.

[MickeyH]

Amazing thanks so much, appreciate your help I guessed it was pretty recent as the colour was so light as well. Felt more bone than rock if you know what I mean!

Thanks again