POSSIBLY because of the angle from which the picture was taken, last week’s Craven Curiosity, below, initially perplexed everyone in the Craven Herald office. Not so our readers, though, many of whom were quick to come to a conclusion - even if some, probably prompted by the state of disrepair of the object, were keen to go back in time rather a long way.

Margaret Sangster, of Long Preston, said: “I believe this week’s curiosity is an elephant’s tooth.”

Phil Cox, of Settle, said: “It’s a molar tooth from an elephant”, while Hywel Davies, of Hellifield, wrote: “I think this probably a molar tooth from a large animal, but from what I don’t know. Possibly an elephant.” Keen to attribute further antiquity was Tony Phillips, who says: “This week’s Curiosity is a mammoth tooth. It looks older than an elephant tooth.”

And Shelly Woolley, says: “ I believe that this is a woolly mammoth tooth. I’m originally from Essex and they dredge these up occasionally from the Thames Estuary. I actually bought one for my husband’s 50th Birthday. What else could you buy an ‘old boy’ whose surname is Woolley!?”

And from Cath Cooney: “I have seen one of these recently on one of the antique shows on TV. It’s a mammoth tooth fossil.”

The object was originally found in a reader’s loft and has been used for years as a doorstop. Opinion is that it is an elephant’s molar , and though it’s old is probably not that of a mammoth. This week’s ‘Curiosity’ is pictured above. Please send suggestions to ‘news@cravenherald,co.uk’ by 8am on Monday.