The fossil bone will also have a different texture than the rock. And then the paleontologist will tell you that if you still cannot tell the difference—you will have to LICK the fossil. ... Your tongue is wet and is the perfect tool to determine bone from rock. If your tongue sticks—you have a fossil bone.

Do archaeologists lick bones?

Archaeologists sometimes used to lick artifacts they excavated in the field to determine if they were bone or not. Everything on an excavation, including the archaeologists themselves, is often covered in dirt, so it can be difficult to tell what material an object is made of when it first comes out of the ground.

Is it safe to lick bones?

Fossil bone, on the other hand, will probably preserve the internal bone structure. ... The porous nature of some fossil bones will cause it to slightly stick to your tongue if you lick it, though you might want to have a glass of water handy if you feel compelled to try this.