FAQS: Earth Sciences Unit
I've found some old bones in my backyard – how can I tell if they are fossils?
Most fossilized bones are heavier than recent ones because the bone material has been at least partly replaced by minerals. The colour is also often different from regular bone, depending on the kind of minerals taken up during fossilization and whether it was subjected to staining in the process. If you think you have found a fossilized bone, bring it in to the RSM, and the palaeontologists may be able to identify what kind of animal it came from.
For further information contact the Curator of Earth Sciences