[Bonetools] likelihood of beaver tooth found on the Thames foreshore having been used as a tool

[Nathalie Buttimore]


Hi all,
Not a bone object but a tooth, which I hope is ok. 
On Sunday I found what I’m pretty sure is a beaver tooth while mudlarking on the Thames foreshore at Putney, an area which can bring up prehistoric, Roman and Anglo-Saxon finds. The tooth, having been in the Thames mud for a few centuries at least, is completely darkened. The front side of the tooth is very shiny and solid looking, whilst the back looks much more fragile and has a crack. The root end looks like it might have been purposely cut though it might be possible that it’s just a very clean break. Obviously I would love for it to have been purposely worked and used as a tool or an amulet but having no other examples to compare it with I have no idea how likely that is.
Another concern I have is preservation. The boar tusks that are found on the foreshore disintegrate rapidly after emerging from the mud and I would really not like for that to happen to this tooth. Teeth generally survive well but I don’t know of any other beaver teeth finds and it does have a crack.
Is there any advice or information anyone could give me about preservation and finding out if it has any signs of having been used as a tool?
Attached are photos of the tooth. 

Thanks,
Nat 






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