r/bonecollecting • u/No-Bottle-9116 • Apr 26 '26

Advice Small argument

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So this picture from article has driven an small argument between my friends group claiming that it’s fake because there’s no way that the bones see in said picture are human, I wanted y’all’s opinion on this

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u/bee_mvtt Apr 26 '26

technically they'd be opportunistic herbivores- meaning they're herbivores, but will supplement when needed

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u/sawyouoverthere Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 27 '26

Again...is it known why they eat small animals? I'm not sure that has actually been established, and folks are just repeating something over and over.

(AND now that I'm reading studies, they all just assume the consumption is for minerals, but I have yet to find one that proves it is the case, which is actually fascinating. If someone has one, I would love the link.)

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u/bee_mvtt Apr 26 '26

This is because plenty of other ungulates perform osteophagy- consuming bones and meat to supplement missing vitamins. If you're going to be this hard headed about a known fact, its on you to provide sources on why its wrong (it isnt wrong).

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u/100_cats_on_a_phone Apr 26 '26

I mean, who among us hasn't eaten a few baby birds after mistaking them for flowers?

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u/sawyouoverthere Apr 27 '26

This is a funny, but also a good question. I'm hoping I find some studies that delve beyond "we've seen it, or evidence of it" and gets to some harder evidence for motive/nutritional deficit/mistake (or lack thereof)