Moa Leg Bone
This is a leg bone (femur I think) of a Moa, an extinct group of ratites which were endemic to NZ. It is thought that there were nine species of moa, in 6 genera, and that they became extinct shortly after humans arrived in NZ, in around 1400AD. This bone is therefore at least 500 years old. I do not know what species it is from, although a few species can be easily eliminated.
It is a bit over 50cm long. The coin in the photo is a 20 Euro cent piece (diameter 2.2cm). The origin of the bone is not known, it was bought for me at an auction, and given to me one Christmas in a KFC bucket. There is an interesting mark in the middle of the bone, which may be from when the bird was killed. Or may not.
I also have a vertebrae and rib bone from a different moa, which was uncovered in Oamaru, South Canterbury. I keep these in a box, but can't dig them out at the moment to take photos. The large bone I keep on a shelf, out of direct sun but exposed to everything else. I'm not really sure what the best way of preserving it is.
