What kind of tooth?

[AlabamaRelic]

I dug this tooth in 1988 in a rock shelter. A few days later my buddy dug a burial right beside where I found this tooth. I don't think this is human, but it has been on my mind lately.

 

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[releventchair]

Does not appear human.
Appears worked on root end as well, so not a casual piece.. A starting point might be local creatures existing during approximate age of recoveries at site. Stuff traveled and was traded though...
Resembles no teeth I am familiar with in my area.
First uneducated guess would be that it is antler. Never checked gator teeth or wild hogs, domestic hogs been a long time, but similar yet smaller.... but if a tooth I would check small porcine tusks. No root showing or hole for nerve throws me off though.

 

[AlabamaRelic]

It is a tooth. The larger end is worn smooth. The teeth of the burial my buddy found were worn flat just like the tooth I found is worn flat. I will get a better picture tomorrow. The skeleton was incomplete. It probably dated to archaic times since that is the type of points we found.

 

[releventchair]

Al right. I,m looking at it upside down then.
So, single root. Possibly from location of grinding grit in diet with molars.Could be canine or premolar if molars were worn sensitive. Interesting.

 

[2Minnesota]

Your first photo is of the mesial or distal view of the tooth. The photo below is of a human lateral incisor (which your tooth most closely resembles). I do not believe it is a human tooth unless it is severely worn. Did your buddy have the stuff looked at? Was it missing incisor teeth? Interesting...

 

[AlabamaRelic]

I don't think the tooth is human. I think it's to big. The teeth on the skeleton were worn flat like this tooth. The lower jaw did have a molar that was broken below the gum line.

 

[releventchair]

Tonight's guess, horse front tooth. Per wear.

 

[AlabamaRelic]

It could be I guess. Seems small for a horse tooth. How big is a horses front tooth?

Tonight's guess, horse front tooth. Per wear.

View attachment 1155679

 

[releventchair]

Modern horse here in link.
Early history ones were smaller animals,mustangs,donkeys,size will vary. The wear is the biggest reason I consider an equine .

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