Carnivore Gnaw Marks
Definition
Bone surface modifications produced by carnivore feeding: bilateral cortical furrows from canine teeth at shaft ends and epiphyses, pitting from incisor and premolar contact, scoring along diaphyses. Distinguished from rodent gnawing (narrow, regularly spaced incisor grooves) and from perimortem sharp-force trauma (clean-edged cuts vs irregular gnaw channels).
- Canine sign
- Bilateral cortical furrows at shaft ends and epiphyses
- Incisor/premolar sign
- Pitting from repeated contact
- Diaphysis sign
- Scoring along the shaft
- Confused with
- Rodent gnawing and perimortem sharp-force trauma
Common questions
How do carnivore gnaw marks differ from rodent gnawing?+
Rodent incisor marks are narrow, parallel and regularly spaced grooves left by repeated small bites, while carnivore gnawing produces broader, irregular furrows and pitting with no consistent spacing, reflecting a much larger and more variable dentition.
How does an analyst avoid mistaking gnaw marks for sharp-force trauma?+
Sharp-force cuts have clean, smooth-walled margins from a single cutting edge, whereas gnaw channels show irregular, striated walls and associated pitting from repeated tooth contact, a distinction confirmed under low-power microscopy.
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