A review of fossil vertebrate remains from Pleistocene layers of Akhstyrskaya Cave (North-West Caucasus)
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Publication Date
6-25-2012
Publication Title
Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS
Volume Number
316
Issue Number
2
Abstract
The Pleistocene fauna of vertebrates from the Akhshtyrskaya Paleolithic cave site comprises nine species of birds and 34 species of mammals, including 5 extinct taxa (Arvicola cf. chosaricus, A. cf. kalmalkensis, Ursus kudarensis, Panthera spelaea, Megaloceros giganteus). Most of fossil bone-fragments of large mammals (over 95%) belong to the Kudaro cave bear (Ursus kudarensis). Cave-bear remains predominantly represent males. The set of skeletal elements suggests the death of bears by natural causes, inside the cave. Traces of damage on bear bones produced by predators are scarce; no unambiguous cut marks from stone tools were revealed. The Akhshtyrskaya Cave presumably was used by cave bears for overwintering, serving from time to time as a shelter for ancient hominins.
Document Type
Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.31610/trudyzin/2012.316.2.93
Recommended Citation
Baryshnikov, G.F., "A review of fossil vertebrate remains from Pleistocene layers of Akhstyrskaya Cave (North-West Caucasus)" (2012). KIP Articles. 9417.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/kip_articles/9417
