Bone of Contention

Bone from unknown species is 7 3/4 in. long and 2 in. extreme width. Geometric designs. Am not sure of its origin, can you help? Maybe the same design patterns show up on other objects from wherever the place is. Could it be a bone from homo sapiens (ugh!) If so is it an humerus, radius, or what? Is there an orthopedist in the house?

The designs were carved into the bone then filled with black paint or ink of some kind.

 

Sure looks like a bone. Not Northwest Coast Native American/Canadian First Nations, that's about all I can say.

 

Great pics! I don't know what your bones are from but I'd not jump to human. For example here is a listing for buffalo bones and if the ends were trimmed the one on the left might be close.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-piece-lot...464818?hash=item20fa4f7532:g:~n8AAOSwBLlVJSqd

 

If this attribution is correct then I'm guessing somewhere in Africa.

http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...0005/lot-5d04a4af-88c3-4bff-b314-a3ff00c8cb1e

 

Regarding the question about human bones, I found a chart. Unfortunatey, I don't speak Centimeters. Still looking for one in inches. But it seems this particular bone of contention is wayyy to short to be a normal adult... so... a very small adult or a child, if human, I guess.
http://www.cet.ac.il/math/function/english/line/representations/representations15.htm

 

SIS.....That attribution sucks .......

I can't say how old yours is cuz it doesn't look old or have older scrimshaw designs but I can say ...with some authority, that it's a bovine ( water buffalo) bone , Indonesian betel nut lime container.
Because the inside is dark , it may never have been used.....
& it's lost it's wood finial..or head !!



DAYAK...BORNEO, TIMOR , all good search words..!

 

Thanks all, yes agree with those African specimens being very similar. Maybe an arm bone from someone with alligator arms.

 

Great, betel nut carrier minus carved wooden top. Happy to know the use. "Borneo Buffalo Betel Box." Will have to keep an eye out for the wooden top, is probably around here somewhere.

 

No no no !!!!

Betel nut...LIME container !!!!

 

I was curious about what this was all about...
http://coraltriangle.blogs.panda.org/coral-reefs/making-lime-for-betelnut-chewing-in-mbuke-manus-png

 

it's nasty..............

 

Good glory!
That must be reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally fine stuff!!!!

 

LOL remind me not to buy from that auction house

 

You can buy from them..........just come here 1st and we'll tell you what's what !!!

 

Funny thing is that many years ago I worked for a short time for a couple who imported from Bali. They spent a month or two there every year buying and I saw lots of carvings and fabrics none of which looked anything like this. But then they always said that Bali was very different than the rest of Indonesia and they might not have had any buyers for something like this bone piece.

Roadtrip

 

HA!! YEAH!!! Looks GREAT for the teeth.......NOT!!!

 

Not many people around here chew betel nut.
Those that do, need a lime container , of sorts.

 

Now I've got that song, "Bloody Mary", from the musical "South Pacific" stuck in my head!
Bloody Mary's chewin' betel nuts.
She is always chewin' betel nuts.
Bloody Mary's chewin' betel nuts.
And she don't use Pepsodent!

 

*madly Googling "Bloody Mary" and "South Pacific"*

EDIT

AHA!!!

 

Of course, that actress' teeth look a lot better than they would if she'd chewed betel nuts!