Equus skeleton discovered and yet again it attracts a magnet.

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I discovered this half buried mineralised carcass today on the banks of the old river Tees in Middlesbrough Cleveland North East England. But only had a poor phone camera so the images aren't great, the animal seems to have died were it is now, I aim to excavate it tomorrow, and will report my findings. 

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I am now in the process of cleaning and preserving the skull and mandible.

The pics below show the piece after a basic clean, this Equus piece shows no signs of use by man either for transport or work.

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I have tested for magnetic content and again have found this skull and mandible like a lot of other mineralised bones excavated in the south west of Cleveland attract a magnet, as ive stated before I believe this is because the animals absorbed some form of Magnetite, either when alive or during burial.

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Note the round magnet attached to the bone outlined in red.

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Magnetic Equus bones

  1 - The first 3 images show two none rare earth magnets attached to an Equus radius recently found in Stainsby beck in the south west area of Cleveland North East England.

  2 - This Radius has one of the strongest magnetic attractions, of the many magnetic bones and wood Ive found in this area, usually the wood or bone will only hold a rare earth magnet, not weak ones like this.

  3 - This bone is well mineralised and as with the wood and bone Ive previously reported to have a magnetic attraction. I  believe the bone has absorbed some form of Magnetite, either after burial or possibly even while the animal lived.

  4 - This image shows a much stronger rare earth magnet attached to the same radius.

  5 - The next images show another Equus radius from another beck valley area in this area with a rare earth magnet attached, this bone would not take a none rare earth magnet.

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Septarean nodule from the Stainton gravel beds

  1- The three images show a split and polished Septarian nodule from the Stainton gravel beds.

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