🔎 UNIDENTIFIED I think it's a tooth.

[kdawgwnc]

Hi, I"m sure i'm breaking rules by not introducing my self first. I'm sorry. I've been lurking for 5+ years since I've been metal detecting. I found this recently while walking a riverbed in western North Carolina. It looks like a tooth to me. It seems fossilized. I'm not sure what it's from or how old. I'd love to hear any feedback or ideas since I know a lot of these members can be pretty knowledgeable. thank you.

 

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[Tedyoh]

Good eye....looks like a fossilized tooth to me as well....pretty big....maybe a wolf ancestor, big predator whatever it was from...

 

[Blackfoot58]

It certainly resembles a tooth IMO. The root base seems obvious. As a side note, it appears it garnered 35 cents from the tooth fairy! Just joking.

 

[kdawgwnc]

Thanks, I'm mostly curious if it is a tooth, how old it could be? How long does it typically take to fossilize bone? And what animal it could have come from in this area?

 

[Blackfoot58]

I would guess larger felines or canines back in the appropriate period. I’d say it wasn’t a herbivore. Pretty good shredding potential.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

Possibly a Dire wolf's tooth.

 

[Kray Gelder]

Your photos don't show, but it's pretty thin edge-on, right? Slicing fish tooth. Late Cretaceous Enchodus...the sabre toothed 5 foot long herring.

These are found in North Carolina in Late Cretaceous Age rocks. Your specimen has lost it's enamel, I think. Cool find!

 

[Kray Gelder]

A possible relative, the saber tooth salmon came along later. 9 foot long fanged salmon swimming up California's rivers to spawn. Imagine.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Here is a toothy example from yesterday. A lot of teeth but not nearly as scary.

 

[Mud Hut]

That is a nice find. It would make a cool piece of jewelry.

 

[kdawgwnc]

This tooth was under water at the bottom of a river when found. So I'm sure it's been tumbled around for a long time. Here are some side pictures if that helps.

 

[kdawgwnc]

I want to thank everyone for there replies so far. I appreciate the feedback. Like i said, I have no idea what this is from or what time period.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Doesn't have roots like a mamal's tooth. Looks more like a fish or shark tooth.

 

[Older The Better]

Ehhh I’m not quite sold on a tooth, the side view makes me more confident it’s a fossil, I’m wondering if it’s not actually a piece of broken bone that’s been worn down by erosion into a tooth shape.