Anthropology/human bones?

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Expert: - 5/8/2010


Question

finger bones
Yesterday, while I was digging a hole for a rose bush, I came across a piece of a bone about  7 inches down.   It had been cut off one  one side, so my first thought was a bone from a butcher, maybe for soup or whatever, though it was a bit smaller than the soup/dog chew bones I have seen.   A couple of people told me it looked like a bone from a child, but it seemed unlikely, so I just assumed it was an animal bone.

Then, this morning, I was outside with my puppy, who had been digging out back with me yesterday, when he defecated, and to my surprise, their were two smaller bones in his stool.

I was concerned for his health, so I brought them in and rinsed them off.  As I looked closely at them, I started wondering if they were not human finger bones.  I was wondering if you would be able to look at the picture I took and tell me if you think they are human remains or not.  If so, I will contact the police, but I was  hoping to have more of a verification before I call them.

Thank you for your time!

Answer
Rachel
Take them to the police.  They have the training to tell you definitely and in the unlikley event they are something other than animal bones, they will be grateful you did so.
It is difficult for me to tell much about them from the picture you show, partly because of image resolution, but also because there is no "scale" (object of known size) in the image.
They are unfused at their ends, and thus juvenile, but they do not look to me like human bones.
Again, contact your local Law Enforcement.  
In my past experience, such finds of bones in gardens and near the surface usually turn out to be animal bones, but you should, if anything, err on the side of caution.
Sincerely,
John Shea
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you very much. I will do so.


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John Shea

Expertise

Questions about Old World prehistoric archaeology (especially Stone Age) of Europe, Africa, and Western Asia, prehistoric human and hominid behavior, primitive technology, origin of modern humans, extinction of the Neandertals.

Experience

>20 years as a professional anthropologist based at a research university.

Publications
Journal of Field Archaeology, Journal of Archaeological Science, Lithic Technology, Evolutionary Anthropology, Current Anthropology, Mitekufat HaEven (Journal of the Israel Prehistoric Society), Paléorient, Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, American Anthropologist, Geoarchaeology.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D (Anthropology) Harvard University, 1991.
BA (Archaeology) Boston University, 1982.

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