| Abstract: | A central diaphyseal fragment of a red deer metacarpus of recent origin is described, showing signs of bone chewing by deer, the most prominent being fork formation at either end of the specimen. Compared with a red deer metacarpus from the same region described previously, the present one was in a much more advanced stage of bone destruction as a result of osteophagia. Additionally, alterations resulting from gnawing by small rodents and from root etching were present in the specimen. Detailed knowledge of the full spectrum of bone changes originating from chewing by ruminants may prevent the erroneous interpretation of such altered bones as human artefacts. |
