Fossils or what?

Question

My dog was digging in the backyard yesterday and found to bones that look to be like fossils. One has like teeth in it and the other one like a spine. Where in michigan could i find someone to look at these? are there people in the phone book i could call or any websites? anything would help thank you.

Answer 1

You could have an ancient site, or you could have something more recently deposited. Either way, I think that you should call the Anthropology Department at the University of Michigan, and tell them to come to your house and see what you have.

Don't try to dig up the bones yourself, otherwise you'd be destroying a potential archaeological site.

Answer 2

I know University of Wisconsin and University of Michigan both have reputable departments. Since you said backyard, I'm assuming that you live in a suburb or city. If so, it is unlikely you found an old fossil, since fossils generally found in areas of uplift and such areas are rarely built on such property. (I'm assuming your dog didn't dig 300 ft down).

It's likely just a recent specimen. It couldn't hurt to check, though.

Answer 3

The dog would probably have to be pretty deep for it to be a fossil.

Its probably someone's old pet; but the local biology department could tell you that. Or a taxonomy shop.

Answer 4

Take them to the paleotology dept at the nearest major university.

Would be really cool if you found a new species.  Though if they are not embedded in rock they are probably not that old but may be of interest anyway as it may be indigineous species that have since gone extinct.