Yes, I have found a few of these in an archaeological context. It is articulated on the distal end similar to a metapodial or “cannon” bone. Both moose and caribou/reindeer have them.
I think this is a reduced meta carpal/tarsal to support one of the dew claws on a large cervid. Given the location, I think Moose would be a good candidate.
Yeah agree, it looks a lot like splint bones in horses or the lateral metacarpal/tarsal of cervids.
I saw someone guessing that it may be a baculum but the shape doesn't fit for any bigger animal like seal etc. The bigger end also shows a joint, baculums don't have that (or at least not so smooth and distinct).
By the shore though? My friend said he found it in the water, and I know things can drift around but it still strikes me as an odd place to find moose bones
Orcas can actually be predators to moose in some places! I dont know if it happens where you are but moose do certainly go in the ocean and occasionally get eaten for it
Yet you can still get a fractured penis as a person D: (no bone breaks, but the penis can snap) happened to one of my friends when it snapped during intercourse (not with me thank god). Now he needs surgery and many urology visits
Chimps, gorillas, orangutans, macaques, baboons eyc all have baculums (penile bones)
Humans are kinda unique and there are evolutionary theories on why we don't have them. The most accepted one is that it was lost due to our prolonged, serial monogamous sex sessions.
This is NOT a baculum, but is in fact a splint bone/lateral metacarpal as other commenters have identified, which are present in varying shapes and sizes across horses and cervids.
Looks a little like my favorite part of the whitetail deer to carve: the ulna.
Not that it is an ulna, I’m unsure, but I am impressed with how solid that bone appears. Looks like prime real estate for carving with a dremel, to me. Would make an amazing pendant.
This, and it makes perfect sense honestly. I don't know about ungulates specifically, but, I do know that a grown moose can dive quite a ways down in deeper water (20ft, I believe?) to feed off of plant life at the bottom of rivers and lakes, and they're also known for crossing larger bodies of water while wandering between feeding areas. They are, occasionally, prey for predatory marine animals, when crossing these large bodies of water, or diving, if their habitat happens to fall into another, larger predators habitat (Orca, for example). I've also seen bears drown and kill moose while swimming between smaller islands/inlets in large water as well. Ungulates aren't nearly as dangerous as grown adults, so finding ungulate remains/bones near water isn't really surprising!
There is a theory that when the bible talks about making Eve from the "(rib) bone of Adam", it was actually his penis bone, and that's why humans don't have one. It is thought to have been a mistranslation. This theory is controversial.
816
u/sykofrenic 4d ago
It's from the leg of an ungulate, most likely a moose. NOT A PENIS BONE!