A bit of a creepy find...

[daveO]

I'm not sure what to make of this. I was searching about near the river where I find some interesting old things washing up after floods and I found a folded up sheet of lead. Being lead I put it in the bag for recycling rather than leave it there to pollute the river. It was only when I got it home that I realised it has odd marks all around it and as far as I can tell they're rat teeth marks. Whatever was wrapped up in the lead is long gone but that rat really wanted to get at it by the looks of it. What I thought was dumped building materials might have contained something someone wanted hidden in the river but considered tasty to rats

 

[JonathanD]

Probably just a hand or an ear or something.

 

[Tengu]

Oh, thats interesting.

Could the rats be chewing it for the sweet tasting salts?

 

[Bishop]

Definitely gnawed by rats, had motorcycle helmet with similar pattern after leaving half kebab under it one night at a rally.

 

[Lean'n'mean]

It was Ratatouille, he thought it was pie crust & so felt compelled to creatively decorate the edges.

 

[Erbswurst]

It's even possible that a rat just played with it.

Domesticated rats bite in all and everything they can reach in the house just to explore their world.
Such an unusual piece is interesting for a rat because it's rare.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Rare, and absolutely a unique and interesting texture. Just think, no fuzz or splinters to spit out.

 

[daveO]

I wonder if it was chewed before it ended up in the river? Some of the marks look quite fresh but it might have been buried I suppose. Do rats live long enough to get lead poisoning? I found a few sources on-line about teeth marks in lead musket balls which suggest lead has an appealing flavour
https://jefpat.maryland.gov/Pages/m...-bit-the-bullet-let-slip-the-pigs-of-war.aspx
I also remembered that I found this ball on the beach a few years ago. It's make of a plastery material and it looks like a hopeful rat thought it might have been an egg.