Fossil bones identified

[lionelhutz]

I have a bone/fossil that my mum found while digging in her garden. I appears to be a tooth or a claw. As it is fairly big I would love to know what type of animal or bird it belongs to. Can you send things like this to the Natural History Museum or some place for free of charge identifycation.

[Ethel]

Lionel, if you pretend to be around 9 years old, you may get all the help you need by sending a clear photo of your fossil to this site:

http://web.ukonline.co.uk/conker/fossils/index .htm

This is another good site that may help you identify your fossil yourself:

http://www.exploringthepotteries.org.uk/Nof_we bsite1/natural_history_static_exhibitions/iden tifying_rock_minerals_and_fossils/pages/irmf_f ossil_key.htm

If you live near a natural history museum it may be worth taking your fossil along. I did this in Yorkshire and the staff were very helpful.

[heathfield]

I agree with Ethel. if you live in an area where fossils are found, the nearest museum should be familiar with them, and might well know what it is..

[dawkins]

The Natural history museum has a free fossil identification service:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/departm ents/palaeontology/public-enquiries/public-enq uiries-service.html

If you can't get there in person, you could try e-mailing an image or using the on-line database.

Hope this helps

[lionelhutz]

thanks for all your replies

lionel