The article analyzes the results of a study of more than 100 thousand bone remains from the Chagyr cave (excavations in 2007-2011). It is established that the tafocenosis of layers 5 and 6a was formed mainly due to the food activity of wolves and cave hyenas, which used the cave as a shelter or den for breeding offspring. On the contrary, bone remains from layers 6b and 6b in the mouth of the cave were accumulated mainly as a result of the hunting activity of Paleolithic man, who specialized in hunting bison (Bison priscus). To a lesser extent, its prey was the Gadfly horse (Equus (Sussemionus) ovodovi), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), Siberian mountain goat (Capra sibirica) and argali (Ovis ammon). The remains of background megafauna species allow us to reconstruct the existence of steppe landscapes during the formation of layer 6.The accumulation of sediments in layer 5 probably occurred against the background of significant climate aridization. Small areas of woodlands were preserved in river valleys and mountain gorges throughout the entire period of sedimentation.
Key words: Chagyr cave, bone remains, taphocenosis, predators, Paleolithic man.
Introduction
The Chagyr cave is located in the mid-mountain region of Northwestern Altai, in a section of the Charysh River Valley draining the spurs of the northern slope of the Tigirek Range (Derevyanko, Markin, and Zykin, 2008; Derevyanko et al., 2009; Markin, Zykin, and Zykina, 2011). The cave section contains Holocene (layers 1-4) and Pleistocene formations, the upper part of which is composed of subaerial sediments of two horizons (layer 5 and layers 6a, 66.6 b/1.2) of loess - like deposits. The lower interval of the latter contains the richest archaeological, paleontological and anthropological remains. An analysis of the archaeological material allowed us to identify the only analog in the Altai - the Okladnikov Cave technocomplexes (Derevyanko and Markin, 1992). The study of the industry of these two caves gave grounds for identifying a new variant of the Middle Paleolithic of the region - the Sibiryachikha (or Sibiryachikha line of development), comparable to the Mustier of Transcaucasia, Southwestern Europe, and Near Asia (Derevianko and Markin, 2012; Derevianko and Markin, 2011). According to the anthropological materials found in the caves, the carriers of these traditions were representatives of the Neanderthal anthropological type (Viola, Markin, Zenin et al., 2011; Viola, Markin, Buzhilova et al., 2012).
The study of bone remains of large mammals from the Chagyr Cave began in the first year of excavation (Vasiliev, 2009). During the five seasons of excavations (2007-2011), a little more than 100 thousand remains were obtained. Of these, only 3.4% are definable to a species, genus, or class. All available bone material is extremely fragmented. Only 5.5% of bone fragments larger than 5 cm are found. ,
page 28
fragments of diaphyses of tubular bones from Pleistocene layers are stratified and break up into separate parts during drying, and therefore the number of bone fragments in the studied collection slightly exceeds their initial number. At least 20 taxa have been recorded in holocene layers 1-4, including large mammals such as beaver, wolf, brown bear, roe deer, maral, domestic sheep, horse, and cow. In Pleistocene deposits (layers 5-7), remains of 35 mammalian species were found, as well as fish, bird, and human bones (Table 1). Among the detectable remains of large mammals from Layers 5 and 6, isolated teeth and small bones of distal limbs absolutely predominate (Table 2).
Taphonomic features
Bone material in the layers is partially redeposited as a result of burrowing activity of rodents. In most cases, it is not possible to clearly define the boundaries of ponors. When the ponors were filled with soil, individual fragments of Holocene preserved bones penetrated to the level of layer 7. In turn, Pleistocene bone remains with burrowing ejecta fell into the Holocene layers. So, if in the 4th layer almost all bone fragments have typical holocene preservation, then in the 3rd layer approx. 1/4 of the bone material clearly comes from Pleistocene horizons. Layer 5 is dominated by bone fragments of Pleistocene preservation, but there are also typical Holocene fragments.
For individual layers, the degree of fragmentation of bone remains varies slightly (Table 3). The most finely fragmented material is contained in layer 5. Down the section, the degree of fragmentation decreases sequentially. In layers 6a and 6b, the proportion of larger fragments increases, and in layer 6b, the number of fragments larger than 5 cm increases 2-fold, which may indicate a general increase in the sedimentation rate. In turn, this is an indirect confirmation of the more intensive use of the cave by humans and large predators during this period. As a result of their active life activity, not only organic residues, but also dirt applied from the outside on the soles of their paws and feet could get into the cave deposits in large quantities.
Layer 5 (horizons 1-6) is dominated by bones with traces of acid corrosion. They are very thinned, openwork, in some cases with many small through holes. The surface of the bone fragments is polished and fine-grained. The enamel of the teeth of ungulates and predators from the burps of hyenas is noticeably thinned or completely absent. Their shiny surface gives the impression of a strong roundness. In layer 6a (horizons 1-3), most of the bones are also corroded by acid corrosion. The largest fragment of a tubular bone of similar preservation (layer 6b/1, horizon 1) reaches a length of 123 mm and has a through hole with a diameter of 21-28 mm. In layer 66/3, the acid-corroded bone remains become smaller than in layer 6a, but bones with signs of artificial splitting and traces of cuts appear. In the mouth part of the cave (excavations in 2008), in layers 6a (horizons 1, 2) and 66/1, weakly pronounced sinuous lines left by the root system of plants are marked on individual bones.
Only a few small (1-2 cm) bone fragments with traces of fire exposure are recorded in layers 6a, 6b / 4, and four come from scree washing materials.
Traces of cuts made by stone tools are mainly found on bones from layer 6b / 1 (horizons 1-5). During the analysis of the collection, they were found on 13 fragments, mostly 5-10 cm in size, including identified ones: the tibia diaphysis and the thin part of the scapula, ribs and large tubular bones of bison. In some cases, there are multiple cuts, parallel and V-shaped. On a small fragment of the distal part of the bison rib, 9 parallel and intersecting shallow cuts were recorded, on another fragment of the rib - 14, on a fragment of a tubular bone - 7.
Analysis of the osteological material showed that excavations in the last three seasons (2009 - 2011) were mainly carried out outside the large accumulation of bone remains in the mouth of the cave, left by Paleolithic man. Characteristic fragments of tubular bones, split in a fresh state by a human hand, are also found in the depths of the cave,but in much smaller quantities. From the place where parts of bison carcasses were cut and eaten in the estuarine part, bone fragments scattered in all directions in the form of a vanishing plume. In the depths of the cave, most of the bone remains are fragments of bones and teeth that are not related to human activity, passed through the digestive tract of cave hyenas and wolves, with clearly pronounced traces of acid corrosion. Mostly these are thinned, corroded and polished plates from tubular and flat bones, with an uneven wavy surface, often with many small through holes. The majority of isolated teeth also have distinct traces of digestive fermentation, for example, over 97% of all Capra/Ovis teeth.
The specific weight of predator remains in the Chagyr cave is 23.9 % in layer 5 and 18.5 % in layer 6, which means that
page 29
Table 1. Species composition and number of bone remains
Taxon
Layer
1
2
3
4
5
6a
6b
6b
7
Dump site
Total
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Canis familiaris
-
-
-
-
-
-
1*
-
-
-
1
Equus caballus
-
-
2
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2
Bos taurus
-
-
2
-
2*
-
-
-
-
-
4
Capra / Ovis (house.)
4
-
9
5
8*
3*
5*
-
-
4
38
Asioscalops altaica
-
-
1
-
15
20
7
4
-
3
50
Chiropthera gen. indet.
-
-
4
-
-
4
1
-
-
1
11
Ochotona sp.
-
-
1
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
2
Lepus timidus
-
3
2
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
11
L. tanaiticus
-
-
1 **
-
8
6
6
-
-
3
24
L. tolai
-
-
3
1
11
5
6
6
-
2
34
Tamias sibiricus
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
1
Citellus sp.
-
5
13
7
93
50
32
12
-
8
220
Marmota baibacina
1
-
3
-
11
6
2
2
-
-
25
Castor fiber
-
-
1
1
-
-
1
-
-
-
3
Allactaga sp.
-
-
1 **
-
6
2
-
-
-
-
9
Cricetus sp.
-
12
11
9
5
7
-
-
-
1
45
M. myospalax
-
7
9
1
101
63
32
16
-
12
241
Arvicola terrestris
-
2
4
5
2
2
4
-
-
2
21
Rodentia gen. indet.
-
7
10
16
123
65
28
14
-
11
274
Canis lupus
-
- **
2
-
22
19
31
28
2
4
109
Vulpes vulpes
1
1
2(1**)
2
26
21
34
33
1
9
130
V. corsak
-
-
-
3
12
15
21
26
1
3
68
Cuon alpinus
-
-
-
-
11
6
2
6
-
2
27
Ursus arctos
-
-
2
-
5(1**)
1
-
2
-
-
10
Martes zibellina
-
-
-
1
3
-
1
-
-
-
5
M. nivalis
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
-
-
-
1
M. erminea
-
-
-
-
1
-
-
1*
-
-
1
M. altaica
-
1
-
-
3(1**)
-
-
2
-
-
6
M. eversmanni
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
1
3
C. crocuta spelaea
-
-
2**
-
19
14
12
8
-
5
60
Panthera spelaea
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
2
-
-
4
Mammuthus primigenius
-
-
-
-
25
4
16
9
-
4
58
Equus (E.) ferus
-
-
-
-
5
4
4(1*)
2
-
1
16
E. (Sussemionus) ovodovi
-
-
-
-
6
23
30
26
-
4
91
E. ovodovi/ferus
-
-
-
1 **
32
49
19
15
-
3
119
Coelodonta antiquitatis
-
-
-
-
7
5
5
1
-
-
18
Cervus elaphus
-
4
15
9
11 (5*)
13(3*)
12(1*)
10
-
7(6*)
82
Alces alces
-
-
-
-
1*
2*
-
-
-
1*
4
Caprolus pygargus
1
-
13
2
21*
3*
-
1*
1*
1*
43
Rangifer tarandus
-
-
-
2
2
4
5
-
1
14
Bison priscus
-
-
3**
1**
29
117
158
313
12
37
669
Saiga tatarica borealis
-
-
-
-
4
4
-
2
-
-
10
page 30
End of Table 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Saiga/Procapra
-
-
-
-
20
13
9
-
-
1
43
Capra sibirica
-
-
5**
-
94
68
57
64
-
10
298
Ovis ammon
-
-
4**
-
38
31
24
24
1
8
131
Capra/Ovis
-
5**
-
-
60
57
40
27
-
9
81
Pisces
-
-
16
-
4
1
1
-
-
2
24
Aves
2
19
17
12
51
27
18
13
-
11
170
Undetectable debris
31
64
1 645
434
22 946
18 729
25 993
21 564
759
4 460
96 634
Total
40
131
1 805
517
22 839
19 467
26 629
22 236
777
4 632
100 072
* Holocene preserved bones in Pleistocene layers 5-7. " Pleistocene preserved bones in Holocene layers 1-4.
Ratio of remains of large mammalian species in Pleistocene sediments, Table 2. %
Skeleton elements
Foxes
Wolves
Hyena
Mammoth
Rhinoceros
Horses
Bison
Saiga antelope/ dzeren
Goats/ rams
Isolated teeth
61,2
52,7
71,2
100
100
90,8
76,3
67,9
64,5
Fragments of the skull, upper and lower jaws
9,5
6,9
3,5
-
-
0,4
3,3
-
1,4
Bones of the distal extremities
19,9
33,6
20,3
_
_
8,4
13,6
32,1
29,7
Fragments of large tubular bones, scapula, pelvis
5,0
3,8
5,1
_
_
0,4
1,6
_
4,2
Vertebrae, ribs
4,5
3,1
-
-
-
-
5,1
-
0,2
Total leftovers, units.
201
131
59
57
19
238
668
53
589
Table 3. Distribution of large mammalian bone fragments by size class
Layer
1-2 cm
2-5 cm
5-10 cm
> 10 cm
Quantity
%
Quantity
%
Quantity
%
Quantity
%
1
14
38,9
20
55,6
2
5,6
0
0
2
3
4,3
57
82,6
9
13,0
0
0
3
1 030
60,8
593
35,0
64
3,8
6
0,4
4
261
56,7
161
35,0
31
6,7
7
1,5
5
18 067
77,2
5012
21,4
298
1,3
15
0,1
6a
13 559
70,7
4 996
26,1
570
3,0
41
0,2
6b
14 757
63,5
7 164
30,8
1 230
5,3
76
0,3
6b
10 891
48,4
9196
41,0
2 290
10,2
140
0,6
7
461
59,4
257
33,1
51
6,6
7
0,9
Scree
2 901
56,9
1 735
34,0
451
8,8
14
0,3
Total
61 944
64,2
29 191
30,3
4 996
5,2
306
0,3
it is quite comparable with the data on other cave localities in Altai and Khakassia, where the proportion of Carnivora bones is very high (from the number of megafauna remains).: in Strashnaya Cave - 34.5 %, Okladnikov Cave -28.1%, Kaminnaya Cave-11.6%, Proskuryakov Cave - 21.5%, Denisova Cave pre - entrance area - 18.8%, central hall - 50.9%, southern gallery - 36.2%, eastern gallery-31.7%. In the cave Lair of the Hyena, where the accumulation of bone remains took place without human participation, the proportion of predator bones is significantly lower
page 31
(12.7 %) than at most "archaeological" cave sites (Prirodnaya sreda..., 2003; Vasiliev and Ovodov, 2013). Such a disproportionately large proportion of Carnivora remains is never observed not only in natural biocenoses, but also in alluvial taphocenoses that fairly accurately represent them, where the proportion of predator bones, as a rule, does not rise above 1-2 %.
Hyenas and wolves are known not only as scavengers, but also as highly successful collective hunters. Their prey was medium-sized ungulates - horses, deer, saiga antelopes, mountain goats, and sheep. Large carnivores are much more versatile collectors of bone remains than humans, whose hunting activity often had the characteristics of specialization. Cave hyenas collected from all the immediate surroundings of the cave any remains available to them-from a beaver to a mammoth. As a result, such a collection of bones brought by large predators to the cave most fully and accurately reflects the features of the once existing biocenosis.
According to G. F. Baryshnikov (Prirodnaya Sreda..., 2003), most of the small bone fragments with traces of digestive fermentation got into cave deposits from decayed hyena coprolites. Some of the larger remains, including isolated teeth, are undoubtedly derived from the burps of these animals. Observations of the behavior of modern spotted hyenas (C. crocuta) have shown that they regularly empty their stomachs by regurgitating undigested food residues, consisting mainly of wool and semi-dissolved bone fragments. Usually, hyenas, having previously rolled out properly on this hairball, again diligently search for pieces of bone in it, gnawing and swallowing them (Lavik-Goodall, 1977). Taking into account all the above, and taking into account the very slow process of sedimentation in the cave (probably no more than 5-10 cm in 1 thousand years), one should not be surprised at the extreme scarcity and fragmentary nature of the remains of large mammals preserved in the cave layers.
The study of osteological materials showed that at a certain stage (layers 66, 6b/1), the accumulation of bone remains in the Chagyr cave occurred, among other things, as a result of the more or less prolonged habitation of Paleolithic man, who specialized in hunting large herd ungulates, primarily bison. However, most of the time this cave, like other cave sites in Altai, served as a shelter or den for breeding cave hyenas, wolves and foxes. Materials from 2009-2011 indicate that the main body of the bone lens accumulated as a result of human hunting activity gradually wedged out in the direction of the cave depth. In other areas, outside of this anthropogenic cluster, the accumulation of megafauna remains in cave sediments was mainly due to the food activity of large predators. It can be assumed that during periods of absence of humans, wolves and hyenas conducted a thorough audit of the abandoned garbage in the cave, eating or stealing anything of any value in terms of food. Thus, bison remains are represented almost exclusively by isolated teeth, much less often by short bones of the distal parts of the limbs and their fragments. Large epiphysis fragments of bison or horse tubular bones are completely absent. Only flattened and small (up to 5 - 10 cm) thick-walled fragments of the pineal gland are plentifully represented, which, in contrast to the softer epiphysis tissues saturated with bone marrow, almost did not attract predators. In addition, they were easier to get into the burial due to their size and configuration.
According to bone remains, traces of human presence can be traced confidently in layer 6b, they are slightly less pronounced in layer 66, and in layers 6a and 5 they have not yet been recorded, although individual human bones have been found in layer ba / 3. Almost all paleoanthropological finds are also confined to layers 6b and 6b. The dropped incisor of a child (layer 6b) indicates a fairly long period of habitation in the cave of people, including women and children.
Paleoecological reconstructions
In the materials of layer 5, the detectable bones of large mammals are significantly (3.6 times) smaller than in the collection from layer 6. In comparison with layer 6, the relative number of bison remains in layer 5 decreases sharply (5.7 times), and the Siberian mountain goat and argali, on the contrary, significantly (1.8 times) increases. The number of red deer bones decreases by 1.4 times. The specific weight of horse residues in layers 5 and 6 is approximately the same (10.0 and 11.1%, respectively). Saiga/dzeren bones are more than 3 times more common in Layer 5 than in Layer 6 (Figure 1). What causes such contrasting changes in the relative abundance of background megafauna species? There are two possible explanations. The first is aridization and cooling of the climate during the accumulation of layer 5, which led to a significant restructuring of the biota. The second explanation assumes the absence of major changes in the structure of these biocenoses. In this case, the accumulation of bone remains during the formation of layer 5 was mainly due to the food activity of cave hyenas and wolves, akku-
page 32
the manipulation of these bone remains was universal in nature. Their prey included medium-sized ungulates such as horses, deer, mountain goats, sheep, and occasionally young ungulates and pachyderms such as bison, mammoth, and woolly rhinoceros. A significant role in the formation of layer 5 tafocenosis was also played by the collection of any available carrion by these predators in the vicinity of the cave.
During the accumulation of layer 6, the process of "natural" formation of the tafocenosis was disrupted by the superposition of an anthropogenic factor, as a result of which the ratio of background megafauna species was noticeably distorted. The Paleolithic man who visited the cave specialized in hunting large herd ungulates, primarily bison, whose bone fragments from this point on began to be buried in large quantities in cave deposits, mainly in the estuarine part. It is noteworthy that as we move deeper into the cave (excavations in 2009-2011), their number in layer 6 decreases markedly - from 52 (2007 - 2008) to 32 % (2009-2011). At the same time, the number of Capra/Ovis and horse remains increases by 2.2 and 1.7 times, respectively. A significant part of the bones from the excavations of 2009-2011 are marked by signs of destruction due to acid corrosion. Most likely, this is due to the gradual wedging into the cave of the main body of the bone lens, accumulated mainly as a result of human hunting activities. Thus, the tafocenosis of layer 6 in the depth of the cave shows features in common with the tafocenosis of layer 5, which was formed, apparently, without any noticeable human involvement.
Apart from the bones of representatives of intrazonal ubiquitous species (such as wolves, foxes, and mammoths), the remains of megafauna from layers 5 and 6 of the Chagyr Cave mostly belong to the inhabitants of open steppe spaces (Fig. 2). The proportion of mammalian bones of steppe biotopes for Layer 5 is 65.3 %,
1. The ratio of bone remains of large mammals of various species in the Pleistocene layers.
2. The ratio of bone remains of large mammals of different biotopic groups in Pleistocene layers.
page 33
On the 6th-78.7 %, forest - steppe - 6.2 and 4.7 %, respectively, forest - 1.2 and 0.4%, rock - 26.6 and 16.3%. The more than three-fold increase in saiga/dze - ren remains and almost two-fold increase in the Siberian mountain goat in layer 5 is probably due to climate aridization, increasing sedimentation and expanding areas low-grained rock outcrops are the main biotopes of Capra sibirica. The number of remains of relatively cold-loving mammoth and woolly rhinoceros species increases almost 3-fold in layer 5 (Fig.
The primitive bison was an inhabitant of open landscapes. Its spatiotemporal forms were characterized by significant ecological plasticity. Bison inhabited forest-steppe, steppe, and tundra landscapes. In the late Pleistocene, Bison priscus, a very large ermine species, lived in the Altai (Vasiliev and Ovodov, 2009). In layer 5 of the Chagyr Cave, the proportion of bison bones (6.7 %) is close to that of other cave localities in the Altai, and in layer 6, it is sharply increased (38%), probably due to the specialization of Paleolithic hunters on the prey of this animal.
Relatively long metapodia, narrow and high hoof phalanges indicate the relationship of the Ovodov horse (Equus ovodovi) with temperate arid landscapes and hard soils. According to these characteristics, it is second only to the Pleistocene donkey and kulan-inhabitants of arid steppes and semi-deserts. The second type of horse whose remains were found in the cave is E. ferus. It had massive metapods and broad hoof phalanges. This large heavy horse or its closely related forms (E. ex. gr. gallicus) found their ecological optimum and were most numerous in the forest-steppe zone or in the northern steppe, where relatively soft (often moist, as in modern Baraba) soils prevailed. The fact that E. ovodovi exceeds E. ferus by almost 9 times in terms of the number of remains is a direct indication of the dominance of temperate arid steppe landscapes at the time of layer 6 formation.
The remains of typical forest species include only four finds from layers 5 and 6-sable bones and teeth. Small forest areas were probably confined to river valleys and mountain gorges. The existence of riverine forests is also indicated by an isolated beaver tooth found in layer 6b. The presence of isolated brown bear remains can hardly be used as an indicator of forest landscapes. The Pleistocene Ursus arctos of Southern Siberia was most likely similar in ecology to the modern pish-eating bear (Ursus arctos pruinosus), which now inhabits the upland steppes of Northern Tibet. Red deer and elk that were part of the mammoth fauna, unlike modern ones, also did not have an obligate relationship with forest habitats and found quite acceptable conditions for their existence in steppe and forest-steppe landscapes. This is clearly demonstrated by the morphofunctional features of the structure of their lower jaw [Vasiliev, 20056,2011]. The depth of snow cover, judging by the presence of saiga remains, most likely did not exceed 15-20 cm. The presence of reindeer bones suggests the formation of layers 5 and 6 in the cold intervals of the late Pleistocene.
According to palynological data, the forest-steppe is reconstructed for the time of accumulation of layer 5 and the upper half of layer 6a. Its lower strata, layers 6b and 6b / 1, were formed under the dominance of steppe landscapes. For layers 6b / 2 and 7, the presence of forest vegetation with the participation of cold deciduous forests was noted (Rudaya, 2011). However, almost all detectable bone remains of large mammals from these layers (not counting five bones of the wolf and fox - ubiquitous species) belong to steppe (66 %) and rocky (29.8 %) biotopes, only two bones belong to reindeer, which can be conditionally attributed to tundra (4.2 %).
Thus, the remains of large mammals allow us to reconstruct the dominance of open steppe landscapes for the accumulation period of layer 6 (including layer 6b / 2, as well as layer 7). The time of formation of layer 5 was marked, apparently, by a significant aridization of the climate. At the same time, during the entire period of sedimentation in the late Pleistocene, relatively small areas of woodlands could have been preserved in river valleys, mountain gorges, and possibly in some places on the slopes of the mountains of the northern exposure.
Systematic review
Castorfiber).Beaver (Isolated right M1) found in layer 66/1. Crown length 6.2 mm, width 7.2 mm, tooth height 24.5 mm. A complete metatarsal bone of a large individual was found in Holocene layer 3, and a coronal process of the lower jaw was found in layer 4. Isolated beaver remains (mainly teeth) are found in most Pleistocene cave localities in Altai.
Canis lupus).Wolf (Its remains are found in all Pleistocene strata. In terms of numbers, the wolf is only slightly inferior to the fox and almost twice as large as the cave hyena. Only a small number of isolated teeth and two fragments of the lower jaw are suitable for measurement and comparison. Despite the insignificant size of the sample, it is possible to state a great similarity in the size of teeth with the modern wolf of Altai (Table 4). The Chagyr cave served as a very convenient den for this predator. In other caves of Gorny Altai os-
page 34
See Table 4. Size of Canis lupus teeth
Dimensions, mm
Chagyr cave
Altai, modernity (S. lupus altaicus)
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
Length P 2
1
-
14,30
7
13,7 - 15,5
14,34
Width P 2
1
-
6,10
6
5,6 - 7,2
6,37
Length P 3
1
-
15,70
6
15,5 - 16,4
15,97
Width P 3
1
-
7,20
6
6,7 - 7,7
7,25
Length P 4
5
22,0 - 27,2
24,38
8
24,0 - 27,4
25,39
Width P 4
5
11,0 - 15,5
12,94
8
12,1 - 14,8
13,26
Length M 1
2
15,4 - 18,0
16,70
8
15,5 - 17,4
16,46
Width M 1
2
18,2 - 20,3
19,25
8
20,3 - 23,0
21,78
Length M, - M 3
1
-
42,50
10
45,0 - 48,8
46,28
Length P 2
1
-
13,40
9
11,0 - 13,1
12,29
Width P 2
1
-
5,70
9
5,2 - 7,0
6,13
Length P 3
2
13,6 - 15,0
14,30
10
13,0 - 14,2
13,78
Width P 3
2
5,8 - 7,0
6,40
9
5,4 - 8,0
6,58
Length P 4
3
14,8 - 17,2
16,10
10
15,2 - 16,3
15,90
Width P 4
3
7,5 - 8,5
8,03
10
6,2 - 8,6
7,87
Length M 1
2
27,0 - 29,7
28,35
10
26,7 - 31,5
28,66
Width M 1
2
11,1 - 12,7
11,90
10
9,9 - 13,2
11,42
Length M 2
4
11,0 - 12,4
11,53
10
11,0 - 13,3
12,17
Width M 2
4
8,0 - 9,0
8,58
10
8,1 - 9,6
8,91
Length M 3
2
5,2 - 6,7
5,95
7
5,6 - 6,5
6,14
Width M 3
2
5,3 - 5,7
5,50
7
5,2 - 6,0
5,67
The females of the cave hyena tend to significantly predominate over those of the wolf (Vasiliev and Ovodov, 2013).
(Vulpes vulpes). According to the number of remains, the fox is the first among carnivores. Isolated teeth and small bones of the distal extremities predominate. Length of 6 copies. M1 16.1-18.3 (M 16.98) mm, width-5.3 - 7.0 (M 6.50) mm. The width of the lower end of the tibia is 13.3 mm, the diameter is 9 mm. The length of the calcaneus is 33.2 mm. Some of the bones and teeth show signs of acid corrosion. Cave hyenas and wolves could dispose of the remains of foxes that died for one reason or another, both in the cave and brought by them from the outside. Judging by the fact that no baby teeth of foxes (including Korsak) were found in the sediments, the cave was mainly used by them as a temporary shelter.
(Vulpes corsak). Korsak The remains of this small steppe fox are found in the cave deposits almost 2 times less often than V. vulpes. Four intact upper predatory teeth were preserved (P 4). The length of the crown is 12.0-12.3 (M12D5) mm, width-4.3 - 4.7 (M 4.53) mm. Two fragments of the lower jaw have an alveolar dentition length of 29.0 and 29.6 mm. Length of 4 copies. M1 13.2-14.0 (M 13.73) mm, width-5.1 - 5.6 (M 5.33) mm. The two lower halves of the radius have a diaphysis width of 6.7 and 6.8 mm, a diameter of 3.6 and 4.6, a width of the lower end of 11, a diameter of 6.2 and 6.4 mm. The length of three calcaneal bones corroded by acid corrosion is 22.4, 24.3 and 27.5 mm.
Red wolf (Siop alpinus). Teeth and small bones of the distal extremities are fixed from layer 5 (horizon 3) to layer 6b / 1 (horizon 3). Most of them are damaged by acid corrosion. Three copies of the M2 have a length of 9.5, 9.7 and 10.1 mm, a width of 5.2, 5.9 and 6.1 mm. Remains of the red wolf are ubiquitous in the Altai cave deposits, but usually 2-3 times rarer than the gray wolf.
Brown bear (Ursus arctos). In Holocene layer 3, an incisor and a fragment of a strongly erased molar tooth were found, in layer 5 (horizons 1, 4, 5) - the first three phalanges (one of them is Holocene preserved), an incisor and a fragment of a molar tooth, in layer 6a / 1-a fragment of the upper end of the first phalanx, in layer 6b / 1 (horizon 1) is the third posterior phalanx. These residues are too sparse for morphometric analysis. Materials from the Strashnaya Cave show that in the late Pleistocene, a brown bear lived in the Altai Mountains, surpassing the size of the largest bones and teeth
page 35
Holocene representatives of this species (Vasiliev and Grebnev, 2009). Along with its remains, teeth and bones of the small cave bear (Ursus savini - Denisova and Strashnaya) and cave bear (Ursus spelaeus-Strashnaya) were found in much smaller numbers in Altai caves (Knapp et al., 2009; Vasiliev and Zenin, 2009; Vasiliev, Shunkov, Tsybankov, 2008; Knapp et al., 2009).
Sable (Maries zibellind). In layers 5 (horizon 4) and 66/1, two canines of the upper jaw with a length of 22.0 and 20.3 mm were found, in Holocene layer 4-a similar canine of Pleistocene preservation, damaged by acid corrosion, with a length of more than 19.5 mm, in layer 5 (horizons 4, 5) - two proximal halves of the metatarsal bones. Isolated sable remains are found in Pleistocene deposits of most cave localities in Altai. They indicate that against the background of the dominance of open landscapes in river valleys and mountain gorges, more or less significant areas of forest vegetation were preserved in some places.
(Mustela eversmanni). Steppe polecat The left branch of the lower jaw with incomplete and not affected by erasure of M1 of another individual was found in layer 6a / 1. The length of the jaw from the incisors to the articular process is more than 40.5 mm, the alveolar length of the dentition (P 2-M 2) is 19.2 mm. The height of the jaw per M1 is 8.8 mm, the thickness under it is 4.9 mm. The whole humerus of Pleistocene preservation was found in the materials of the dump washing. Its length from the head is 43.4 mm, the width of the upper end, the diaphysis and the lower end are 9.8, 3.5 and 11.8 mm, respectively. Steppe polecat remains are a good indicator of the paleocenvironment, indicating the dominance of open landscapes.
(C. crocuta spelaed). Cave hyena A significant part of the bone remains with traces of digestive fermentation comes from belches and decayed coprolites, most likely from this particular predator. The presence of baby teeth indicates that the cave was used by hyena clans to breed offspring. In the ba/3 layer, a gnawed fragment of the lower jaw with P2 - was found.Seven first and third phalanges and their fragments, the central tarsal bone, fragments of the upper end of the radial and ulnar bones, and a fragment of the lower end of the metapodium were preserved from the bones of the postcranial skeleton. The lower part of the tibia (layer 6b / 1) has a width of 18.3 mm, a diameter of 10.8 mm. An incomplete hyena coprolite with a diameter of 24 mm was found in layer 6b/1 (horizon 1). Measurements of isolated teeth and lower jaw are given in Table 5. The cave hyena is the main accumulator of bone remains in cave tafocenoses of Western Europe and the mountains of Southern Siberia. Its role in this capacity is discussed in detail in a number of articles [Vasiliev and Ovodov, 2013; Diedrich, 2010, 2011; Diedrich and Zak, 2006; Kuch, Berger, Skinner, 2010].
Cave lion (Panthera spelaed). In layer 5 (horizon 1), an excellent preserved weakly eroded Mj was found. Its length is 32.6 mm, width - 15.7 mm.
See Table 5. Tooth sizes of C. crocuta spelaea
Dimensions, mm
Chagyrskaya Street
Denisova Street
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
Length P 3
-
24,50
3
24,3 - 27,7
25,80
Width P 3
-
19,30
3
17,9 - 20,3
18,93
Length P 4
-
43,00
1
-
40,50
Width P 4
-
23,50
1
-
23,00
Length from the posterior wall of the canine to M 1
-
92,50
2
91,5 - 99,5
95,50
Diastema length
-
3,00
9
3,2 - 8,8
5,68
Alveolar length P 2-P 4
-
58,00
7
55,0 - 63,0
58,50
Coronary length P2 - P4
-
61,00
6
57,6 - 64,3
61,05
Thickness of the horizontal branch under P 3
-
21,00
8
17,8 - 22,3
20,63
Length P 2
2
17,2 - 17,2
17,20
15
15,7 - 17,8
16,80
Width P 2
2
12,4 - 13,1
12,75
16
10,8 - 13,1
12,03
Length P 3
2
21,1 - 22,0
21,55
11
21,5 - 25,5
23,45
Width P 3
2
17,0 - 17,2
17,10
11
15,4 - 18,3
16,84
Length P 4
2
24,0 - 24,9
24,45
9
21,7 - 24,6
23,34
Width P 4
2
14,5 - 15,0
14,75
9
14,6 - 15,5
15,07
Length M 1
1
-
36,30
9
31,3 - 34,4
32,58
Width M 1
1
-
14,60
13
12,3 - 14,6
13,42
page 36
The corresponding measurements of the lower predatory tooth in Eurasian cave lions (n = 31) were 23.7 - 33.2 (M28,41) and 11.5 - 16.3 (M14, 11) mm (Vereshchagin, 1971; Alekseeva, 1980). The tooth from the Chagyr Cave thus belonged to a very large individual. The characteristically curved diaphysis of the first phalanx, corroded by acid corrosion, also originates from layer 5 (horizon 1). Its width in the middle is 13.6 mm. The second phalanx of the forelimb damaged by gastric fermentation (presumably the third left one) was found in layer 6b / 1 (horizon 1). Its total length is 37.3 mm, sagittal 36.5, the width of the upper end is 18, the diameter is 20, the width of the diaphysis is 11, the diameter is 12.1, the width of the lower end is more than 15 mm. In the same layer, a fragment of the lower metapodium with a diameter of more than 21 mm was found. Single residues of P. spelaea occur in almost all cave localities in the Altai region (Ovodov and Martynovich, 2008). It seems that lions, unlike cave hyenas and wolves, rarely used caves as a shelter or den for breeding their offspring. Their remains got into the cave taphocenoses mainly as a result of the food activity of cave hyenas.
Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius). Its remains are represented exclusively by small fragments of baby teeth and small tusks. The length of 41 fragments of first - shift tooth plates (pd 3 - 4) varies from 17 to 63 mm, and 16 fragments of tusk plates-from 20 to 65 mm. Three mammoth teeth (pd 2), the upper and two lower teeth, are fully preserved. The length and width of pd2 are 13.5 and 11.2 mm, pd2-10.5 and 8.5; 11.0 and 8.9 mm, with the number of plates in the tooth 4.4 and 3, respectively. All mammoth teeth, whether intact or broken, show signs of acid corrosion in the digestive tracts of large carnivores and come from their burps or decayed coprolites. It is quite obvious that hyenas did not need to put the heads of the mammoth cubs directly under the cave arches in order to get such remains into the cave deposits. In large tubular bones of adult mammoths, due to their size and high strength, cave hyenas could only partially gnaw out the spongy epiphysis tissue. The corpses of mammoth pups from the first years of life, apparently, were disposed of entirely by them, and the teeth were swallowed together with pieces of alveoli. The presence in cave tafocenoses of almost exclusively fragments of mammoth teeth from the first three shifts (pd 2-4) is also characteristic of other cave sites in Southern Siberia, such as Denisova Cave, Strashnaya Cave, Hyena's Den, or Proskuryakov Grotto (Vasiliev and Ovodov, 2013).
Large caballoid horse (Equus ferus). It is mainly represented by fragments of teeth that are not suitable for morphometric analysis. The incomplete hind hoof phalanx has a width of 75.6 mm, the width and height of the articular surface of 48 and 26 mm. The width of the similar third phalanx Equus ex. gr. gallicus from Taradanovo (Pre-Altai plain) is 72.3-88.5 (M78,79) mm (n = 47), the width and height of the articular surface are 45.0 - 58.2 (M50,82) (n = 57) and 23.5 - 31.5 (M27, 75) mm (n = 62). In the late Pleistocene, a special, very large and massive form of the caballoid horse lived in the Altai. According to the structure of metapods, it cannot be identified with the closely related E. ex. gr. gallicus that lived in the flat part of southern Western Siberia. G. F. Baryshnikov, a large form of horse whose bones were found in Altai caves, was previously designated as E. ferus (Prirodnaya sreda..., 2003).
Horse of Ovodov (Equus (Sussemionus) ovodovi). In the Late Pleistocene deposits of the Altai and Khakassia caves, the remains of two forms of horse are ubiquitous: a large kaballoid horse and a small one, which was previously identified with the kulan (Galkina and Ovodov, 1975) or the Pleistocene donkey (Prirodnaya Sreda..., 2003; Vasiliev, Ovodov, and Martynovich, 2006). Biomolecular and morphological studies have shown that this small form can be attributed neither to the Pleistocene donkey or kulan, nor to representatives of caballoid horses, but is a completely new, clearly expressed monophyletic group [Orlando et al., 2009; Eisenmann and Vasiliev, 2011]. Previously, it was assumed that all members of the subgenus Sussemionus, distributed in the early Pleistocene from North America and Eurasia to Africa, became extinct approximately 0.5 million years ago. Based on materials from the caves of Khakassia and Altai, a new species was described, named after its discoverer, the horse Ovodov (Eisenmann and Vasiliev, 2011; Vasiliev, 2013). In terms of height at the withers (137-160 cm, M 146), this horse approximately corresponded to the modern Mongolian kulan E. h. hemionus, however, was heavier and more massive, as indicated by its less slender metapodia. E. ovodovi bones are present in most cave localities in Altai and Khakassia, as well as in alluvial deposits of the Pre-Altai Plain (Kosintsev and Vasiliev, 2009; Vasiliev, 2005a). In the late Pleistocene, from the Kazantsev (R-W) to the Sartan (W-3) time inclusive, they were almost universally recorded in the cave deposits of Altai and Khakassia. The relative abundance of E. ovodovi remains varies significantly at different localities. They account for more than half of all horse remains in the Proskuryakova grotto, about half in the Denisova Cave, and about 1/3 in the Strashnaya Cave. They are most numerous in the Lair of the Hyena and Chagyrskaya caves, where they are 5 to 9 times more common than E. ferus. In the Chagyr cave, Ovodov's horse remains were found in all Pleistocene layers (except layer 7, where there are only a few detectable remains). Isolated teeth and the first anterior one were found to be suitable for morphometric analysis
page 37
the phalanx. In terms of tooth size and morphology (in particular, the relative length of the protoconch and postflexid), E. ovodovi from the Chagyr Cave differs little from the horse from the Hyena Den (Table 6). The size and proportions of the first phalanx are also very close to those of E. ovodovi from the Hyena's Den and Taradanovo (Table 7).
Woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis). Of the 18 small tooth fragments, 13 belonged to
Table 6. Dimensions of Equus (Sussemionus) ovodovi teeth
Dimensions, mm
Upper teeth
Lower teeth
Chagyrskaya Street
Hyena's Den
Chagyrskaya Street
Hyena's Den
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
P2
Tooth length
1
-
35,30
80
32,3 - 40,8
35,62
4
30,0 - 31,7
31,00
66
26,8 - 37,5
31,93
Protocon / postflexid length
-
6,70
95
5,2 - 10,5
8,02
4
14,3 - 15,2
14,73
64
11,3 - 18,8
14,54
Tooth width
-
23,70
92
20,4 - 27,7
24,48
4
14,7 - 16,0
15,10
68
13,4 - 18,0
15,90
Protocon / postflexid index
-
18,98
80
15,9 - 29,8
22,52
4
45,1 - 49,0
47,52
61
35,5 - 64,8
45,54
RZ-4
Tooth length
-
27,00
153
23,0 - 29,8
26,93
5
24,0 - 26,7
25,60
162
22,5 - 30,8
27,01
Protocon / postflexid length
-
8,90
154
7,2 - 13,7
10,83
5
8,1 - 13,0
11,24
157
7,2 - 16,0
11,96
Tooth width
-
25,40
137
23,7 - 29,6
26,60
5
15,6 - 17,7
16,48
158
14,7 - 19,8
17,14
Protocon / postflexid index
1
-
32,96
152
27,3 - 51,5
40,22
5
33,8 - 50,0
43,91
156
30,0 - 57,6
44,28
M1-2
Tooth length
2
26,2 - 28,5
27,35
216
20,2 - 28,3
24,27
4
23,3 - 27,5
24,70
186
21,6 - 29,2
25,46
Protocon / postflexid length
2
10,0 - 11,0
10,50
225
8,5 - 13,5
11,42
5
7,0 - 10,3
8,62
177
6,3 - 14,0
9,57
Tooth width
2
26,0 - 26,7
26,35
203
23,5 - 30,0
26,36
5
13,2 - 15,7
14,34
173
11,7 - 18,0
14,76
Protocon / postflexid index
2
38,2 - 38,6
38,39
213
33,9 - 60,2
47,05
4
29,4 - 39,3
34,90
176
26,5 - 48,3
37,59
MOH
Tooth length
-
-
-
103
24,5 - 32,0
27,31
2
31,3 - 33,0
32,15
67
28,5 - 34,2
31,44
Protocon / postflexid length
_
_
_
105
10,2 - 15,4
12,72
2
9,1 - 10,2
9,65
66
7,0 - 13,4
9,25
Tooth width
-
-
-
105
21,0 - 25,9
23,13
2
13,2 - 14,5
13,85
66
11,3 - 15,0
12,83
Protocon / postflexid index
_
_
_
97
39,0 - 59,2
46,58
2
29,1 - 30,9
30,02
65
20,6 - 42,1
29,42
Table 7. Dimensions of the first anterior phalangesEquus (Sussemionus) ovodovi
Chagyrskaya Street
Hyena's Den
Taradanovo
(n=1)
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
Maximum length
83,2
3
83,2 - 88,2
85,03
4
84,0 - 85,5
85,00
Sagittal length, min
78,0
3
78,1 - 81,7
79,83
4
78,7 - 80,2
79,45
Top end width
45,3
3
43,8 - 45,5
44,83
4
44,7 - 48,3
46,25
Diameter " "
32,7
3
32,0 - 33,3
32,73
4
30,5 - 35,0
33,05
Diaphysis width, min
29,2
5
26,1 - 29,8
27,88
4
27,6 - 30,4
29,03
Width of the lower end
37,0
3
38,1 - 39,8
39,07
4
40,2 - 42,0
41,25
Diameter " "
21,6
3
21,0 - 22,7
21,90
4
21,2 - 23,0
21,93
page 38
young (juvenile) individuals. All but two of the teeth show signs of acid corrosion. From layer 5 (horizon 4) comes the undamaged right P2 of an adult animal, its length is 23.5 mm, its width is 15 mm. The presence of woolly rhinoceros (as well as mammoth) remains in cave deposits is most likely not related to the activity of Paleolithic man.
(Cervus elaphus sibiricus). Maral Fragments of red deer bones and teeth can be traced throughout the entire section of Pleistocene deposits of the cave. Some of them have Holocene preservation. The distal part of the metacarpal bone from layer 5 (horizon 2) belonged to a small individual, probably a female - its width is 45.2 mm, its diameter is 33.5 mm, which is at the level of minimal values in the modern and holocene Altai maral (Vasiliev, 20056). Two carpal radius bones from layers 5 (horizon 3) and 6b/1 have a projection length of 44.5 and 37.3 mm, a width of 25 and 20, and a height in the anterior region of 31.8 and 30.3 mm. These dimensions are located near the upper and lower boundaries of the carpi radiale variability of the large Holocene Altai maral, whose C. radiale length is 36.5-15.9 (M 41.06) mm (i = 46). The largest length of the third phalanx (layer 6b/1, horizon 2) is 54.3 mm, the dorsal one is 53 at a height of 37.3 mm. A corneal process 192 mm long was found in layer 6b/1. The Late Pleistocene maral in the south of Western and Central Siberia was characterized by a very large body size. The reindeer of the Karginsky period were particularly distinguished in this respect. The lower jaw structure of the Late Pleistocene maral shows signs that indicate its adaptation to living in open-steppe and forest - steppe landscapes [Ibid.].
(Alces alces). Moose Three fragments of teeth and a fragment of the second phalanx found in layers 5, 6 and in the materials of the dump washing are Holocene preserved. In the Late Pleistocene deposits of Altai, moose remains are extremely rare. They are recorded in the Kaminnaya and Strashnaya caves (Vasiliev, Derevyanko, and Markin, 2006; Vasiliev and Zenin, 2009, 2010).
(Capreolus pygargus). Roe deer All the remains of roe deer from Pleistocene deposits are typically Holocene preserved and were undoubtedly found there from layers 1-4.In layer 5 (horizon 1), in one of the squares, in addition to fragments of the central cuboid and radial bones, five fragments of the 1st - 3rd phalanges, ten whole astragalus C. pygarus were found. There is no doubt that these bones, which have no signs of processing, were left here by a person. In Late Pleistocene sediments, few roe deer remains were recorded in the Denisova and Kaminnaya caves (Vasiliev, Derevyanko, and Markin, 2006; Vasiliev, Shunkov, and Tsybankov, 2008; Vasiliev, Shunkov, and 2009).
Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Isolated teeth and elements of the postcranial skeleton are fixed from the horizon 4 of layer 5 to layer 6b / 2. The largest length of the fully preserved first anterior phalanx (layer 6a/1) is 50.6 mm, the sagittal one is 44.8 mm, the width and diameter of the upper end is 22.7 and 22.6, the lower end is 19.3 and 14.3, and the width of the diaphysis is 15.7 mm. The total length of the third phalanx (layer 6b/1, horizon 1) is 40.5 mm, the dorsal one is 40 mm, and the height is 28.3 mm. The width of the lower end of the metacarpal bone from the materials of washing the blade is 39.0 mm, the diameter is 20.3 mm. The length of P2 (layer 6b / 4) is 11.8 mm, width is 6.8 mm, and P4 (layer 6b/3) is 19.2 and 11.6 mm, respectively. Currently, two ecological forms of reindeer inhabit Eurasia: the smaller tundra and the relatively large forest form (Geptner, Nasimovich, and Bannikov, 1961). Judging by the above measurements of several bones of the distal limbs, the deer from the Chagyr cave was closer to the tundra form of Rangifer tarandus. The absence of traces of disposal by predators on these bones suggests that reindeer occasionally became prey to Paleolithic humans. At the same time, two upper teeth from layer 5 (horizons 4 and 6) and a fragment of the first phalanx from layer ba/3 are strongly dissolved by acid corrosion in the stomachs of predators. The remains of reindeer in the Pleistocene deposits of Altai caves are rare everywhere and are obviously associated with cryochronous periods. They were recorded in the caves of Denisova, Strashnaya, and Lair of the Hyena (Vasiliev and Zenin, 2009, 2010; Vasiliev, Shunkov, and Tsybankov, 2010). They are also rare in alluvial deposits of the Pre-Altai Plain (Kosintsev and Vasiliev, 2009; Vasiliev, 2005a).
Bison priscus).Bison (Its remains dominate (34.4%) in the taphocenosis of the Chagyr cave. Isolated teeth and their fragments predominate (76.3 %). The postcranial skeleton is represented by whole bones of the distal parts of the limbs and their fragments-phalanges, carpal and tarsal, but there are also single fragments of hyoid bones, ribs, vertebrae (mainly caudal). Among isolated buccal teeth and incisors of bison, 4.3% are young (juven.), 58% are semi - adult (subad.), 30.4% are adult (ad.), and 7.2% are old (sen.). Few bones of the wrist, tarsus, and phalanx that are suitable for measurement are at the level of the minimum values of the corresponding bone measurements Bison priscus of the Altai and Upper Ob region (Table 8). All of them belonged to small animals, most likely females. The lower jaw teeth (p2_4, M3), on the contrary, do not differ much from those of Bison priscus in the Altai and Upper Ob region in the average and extreme values of measurements (Tab. 9). The number of fragments of bison bones and teeth with signs of acid corrosion, in contrast to the remains of other representatives of megafauna, is very small. Along with this, traces of cuts made by stone tools are found exclusively on the wreckage
page 39
Table 8. Dimensions of Bison priscus limb bones
Dimensions, mm
Chagyrskaya Street
Hyena's Den, W-2
Taradanovo, W-1-2
Krasny Yar, R-W
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Phalanx I (front)
Maximum length
2
71,8 - 77,0
74,40
9
71,0 - 87,0
78,07
115
70,0 - 93,0
80,07
40
72,5 - 91,6
79,68
Sagittal length, min
2
63,3 - 67,2
65,25
9
63,0 - 76,2
69,49
120
61,0 - 82,7
71,65
40
63,5 - 82,0
71,32
Top end width
2
37,2 - 38,0
37,60
10
39,0 - 51,5
45,44
115
34,7 - 52,7
45,22
40
36,5 - 49,5
43,94
Upper end diameter
2
40,0 - 43,8
41,90
4
42,0 - 50,2
45,38
114
38,5 - 55,2
46,89
38
38,0 - 56,0
46,23
Diaphysis width, min
2
33,0 - 33,9
33,45
11
34,0 - 48,0
41,08
119
33,0 - 51,2
41,75
40
34,0 - 47,0
40,97
Width of the lower end
2
37,3 - 38,6
37,95
9
37,8 - 49,7
44,30
115
35,4 - 56,0
45,13
37
35,3 - 49,0
43,82
Lower end diameter
2
27,4 - 28,4
27,90
2
27,0 - 33,0
30,00
103
27,2 - 39,2
32,31
34
25,5 - 35,0
31,00
Phalanx II (front)
Maximum length
-
49,30
11
47,8 - 57,2
52,55
142
46,0 - 62,0
54,37
34
46,0 - 58,8
53,34
Sagittal length, min
-
42,30
11
40,0 - 47,0
43,67
147
38,5 - 50,9
44,36
34
39,5 - 49,0
43,82
Top end width
-
36,20
9
41,0 - 49,4
45,10
139
34,3 - 52,4
46,10
31
39,3 - 54,0
44,94
Upper end diameter
_
37,50
4
48,3 - 54,0
52,00
114
35,0 - 55,5
48,07
31
38,0 - 55,0
46,41
Diaphysis width
-
30,70
11
32,0 - 42,8
36,42
142
28,5 - 44,2
36,76
32
31,5 - 44,8
37,21
Diameter of the diaphysis, min
1
-
28,30
5
30,8 - 35,5
33,66
145
26,4 - 39,5
33,90
34
28,7 - 40,0
33,42
Width of the lower end
-
-
-
6
32,0 - 42,5
38,25
135
30,7 - 49,0
40,63
32
33,7 - 44,8
38,98
Lower end diameter
-
-
-
4
38,0 - 42,7
41,10
138
32,0 - 47,5
41,38
32
35,0 - 44,3
39,76
Phalanx III (front + rear)
Maximum length
1
-
76,00
1
-
85,50
124
74,7 - 113,0
95,00
45
75,0 - 104,5
90,62
Dorsal length
1
-
61,00
3
60,7 - 69,0
64,73
124
61,6 - 93,0
73,85
45
58,0 - 80,8
70,43
Bone Height
1
-
43,50
4
44,0 - 56,0
49,75
131
47,2 - 77,5
59,35
45
45,0 - 68,3
56,21
Joint surface height
1
-
26,70
1
-
42,00
131
36,0 - 54,7
43,57
46
36,0 - 51,0
42,76
Joint surface width
1
-
35,70
4
28,5 - 34,0
31,33
136
27,3 - 43,0
33,94
49
27,0 - 41,5
32,12
Phalanx I (rear)
Maximum length
3
73,2 - 76,3
74,23
4
78,0 - 83,0
80,28
94
73,7 - 93,0
82,56
28
74,0 - 90,0
82,04
Sagittal length, min
3
63,4 - 69,4
65,93
4
70,7 - 76,7
73,73
96
64,8 - 83,7
73,82
29
66,7 - 88,0
72,87
Top end width
5
32,8 - 37,1
35,08
4
35,0 - 39,7
38,30
89
33,0 - 48,5
40,89
28
33,2 - 47,0
40,39
Upper end diameter
5
38,1 - 44,2
40,60
2
43,5 - 45,5
44,50
91
38,0 - 54,0
46,30
28
39,5 - 52,5
46,50
Diaphysis width, min
4
29,3 - 31,6
30,33
4
30,7 - 37,8
34,88
93
29,0 - 43,1
36,70
31
30,0 - 43,0
36,59
page 40
End of Table 8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Width of the lower end
3
33,2 - 37,6
35,00
4
34,3 - 40,4
38,00
94
31,2 - 48,1
40,32
28
34,2 - 44,7
40,04
Lower end diameter
3
24,0 - 26,3
25,53
-
-
-
83
25,0 - 36,7
29,67
22
26,0 - 35,0
29,74
Astragalus
Lateral length
1
-
81,20
86
78,2 - 98,2
89,90
162
76,2 - 104,0
88,62
77
82,0 - 102,5
91,72
Sagittal "
1
-
64,20
95
60,0 - 77,0
70,38
169
58,5 - 80,0
69,24
77
64,2 - 79,4
72,47
Medial "
1
-
75,50
90
72,4 - 90,0
83,31
160
70,3 - 92,3
82,11
76
77,4 - 95,1
84,85
Width of the lower end
1
-
54,30
75
50,8 - 69,4
61,01
146
47,5 - 68,1
57,24
76
53,2 - 72,8
60,87
Medial cross section
1
-
43,30
78
45,0 - 59,3
52,18
112
42,5 - 55,3
49,67
67
46,5 - 60,0
52,32
Lateral cross section
1
-
44,30
88
42,5 - 56,2
50,95
155
41,7 - 58,0
49,08
75
46,0 - 57,5
51,74
Os malleolare
Maximum length
4
39,5 - 45,5
42,23
6
43,0 - 50,2
45,87
6
45,8 - 53,3
48,70
6
46,2 - 49,0
47,25
Largest diameter
4
19,5 - 21,5
20,80
6
20,5 - 28,3
24,05
5
21,2 - 30,8
26,50
6
21,7 - 27,7
24,62
Height
4
28,8 - 34,3
31,15
6
31,0 - 41,8
35,55
-
-
-
-
-
-
Os tar sale IV
Length
1
-
45,00
-
-
-
4
49,2 - 54,2
50,78
8
48,0 - 53,5
51,44
Width
1
-
28,00
-
-
-
4
31,5 - 33,7
32,75
8
30,7 - 34,8
33,01
Height
1
-
16,00
-
-
-
4
14,8 - 16,0
15,63
8
16,2 - 22,0
18,60
Metatarsale
Width of the lower end
1
_
66,50
19
69,7 - 88,7
78,54
50
67,5 - 84,0
76,36
47
68,3 - 86,7
77,49
Lower end diameter
1
_
40,70
16
39,6 - 49,5
45,58
44
40,7 - 50,4
45,88
39
42,1 - 50,9
46,45
Table 9. Dimensions of Bison priscus mandibular teeth
Dimensions, mm
Chagyrskaya Street
Hyena's Den
Kurta K, W-2
Krasny Yar, R-W
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
n
Lim
M
Length P 2
9
11,5 - 14,1
13,28
-
-
-
3
15,0 - 16,5
15,63
15
11,3 - 14,5
12,98
Width P 2
9
9,0 - 11,2
9,70
-
-
-
3
9,8 - 11,3
10,70
15
8,8 - 10,6
9,79
Length P 3
19
18,9 - 24,0
21,28
-
-
-
6
19,4 - 22,0
20,65
30
18,0 - 23,7
20,23
Width P 3
18
11,0 - 14,0
12,62
-
-
-
6
12,3 - 14,5
13,50
30
11,4 - 14,6
12,96
Length P 4
18
20,8 - 26,7
23,82
-
-
-
9
22,3 - 25,0
23,48
31
20,3 - 28,0
23,57
Width P 4
18
12,7 - 16,2
14,56
-
-
-
10
14,6 - 18,0
15,76
32
12,7 - 17,0
15,35
Length M 3
22
43,5 - 49,0
46,15
18
43,0 - 50,8
47,79
22
41,5 - 52,2
46,95
61
42,0 - 53,5
46,76
Width M 3
20
17,4 - 21,7
19,66
14
15,4 - 21,3
19,15
25
16,6 - 23,0
19,88
71
16,0 - 22,5
19,87
buffalo bones. A large accumulation of bone remains in the mouth part of the Chagyr cave consists mainly of fragments of tubular and flat bison bones. There is no doubt that the man here specialized in hunting buffalo, preferring half-grown animals or females, whose meat had higher taste qualities and was obviously easier to get than large ones.
page 41
bulls. Perhaps such hunting was seasonal in nature and was timed to coincide with the annual migration of bison herds from the Pre-Altai plain along the river valleys to the interior of the mountainous country and back. In the late Pleistocene, at least three spatiotemporally closely related forms of Bison priscus lived in the south of Western and Central Siberia: the lowland forest-steppe (Pre - Altai Plain, south of Central Siberia), the lowland steppe (Khakassia), and the largest and most massive mountain-steppe (Altai). The differences between them may have reached the subspecies level (Vasiliev and Ovodov, 2009). The proportion of bison remains from the number of large mammals in the cave tafocenoses of Altai and Khakassia averages about 12 %: in Denisova cave - 9 %, Kaminnaya Cave - 10.4, Okladnikov Cave - 7.2, Strashnaya Cave - 2.3, Hyena Den-18.6, Proskuryakov Cave-23.9 % (Vasiliev and Ovodov, 2013); on the Pre-Altai plain: in Taradanovo-37.9 %, in the Chumysh River deposits-49.5%, in the Upper Ob region, in the Kazantsev and Karginsky layers of the Red Yar near Novosibirsk - 48.3 and 16.6%, respectively, on the Orda and Chik Rivers - 28.6 and 24.5%.
(Saiga tatarica borealis). Some of the hard-to-identify bones and teeth of small members of the Bovidae family may belong to the dzeren (Procapra gutturoza). The remains of this antelope, along with the saiga antelope, are recorded in Pleistocene deposits of the Strashnaya Cave located several tens of kilometers away (Vasiliev and Zenin, 2009, 2010). All single reliably determined remains from the Chagyr cave belong to the saiga antelope. In layer 6a / 1, the first posterior phalanx was found with the upper part destroyed by acid corrosion. The length of the bone in the projection is 45 mm, the sagittal bone is 42 mm, the width of the diaphysis is 7.3 mm, the width of the lower end is 9.8 mm, and the diameter is 10.2 mm. Two characteristic structures of the third phalanx fragment were found in layers 5 (horizon 6) and 6b/1 (horizon 5), and two isolated mandibular teeth were found in layer 6a/2. The overwhelming number of saiga (and dzeren?)remains it shows signs of destruction by digestive enzymes.
Siberian mountain goat (Capra sibirica). It is the second most abundant remaining species after the bison. The number of bones and teeth that can be measured is small. Length M3 26.5-30.0 (M 28.63) mm (n = 12), width 8.0-11.3 (M 9.51) mm (i = 10). The width of the lower end of the radius is 40.3 mm, its diameter is 26.7 mm. The centrocuboid bone has a width of 33.5 mm, a diameter of 29.7 mm, and a width of the upper articular surface of 26.2 mm. The width and diameter of the lower metatarsal are 35.2 and 24.8 mm. Judging by the fact that most of the teeth and bone fragments of mountain goats show signs of acid corrosion, their accumulation in the deposits of the Chagyr cave occurred almost exclusively due to the food activity of cave hyenas and wolves. Hyenas, apparently, mostly picked up the corpses of fallen animals in the vicinity of the cave, and wolves could also use active hunting for these bovids. Males older than 4-5 years bear the greatest damage from them in the second half of winter. Wolves drive animals that have weakened during the rut through the snow, cutting them off from the rock outcrops (Yegorov, 1955; Geptner, Nasimovich, and Bannikov, 1961).
Argali (Ovis ammori). As in other Pleistocene localities of the Altai, argali are 2.3 times less common than mountain goats. The accumulation of its remains in the cave layers occurred (like Sarga sibirica) mainly as a result of the food activity of large predators. Most argali teeth and bone fragments are also corroded by acid corrosion. Length M, 32.3 - 38.2 (M 34.83) mm (n = 12), width 9.8-13.4 (M 11.27) mm (i = 12). The width of the lower end of the metacarpal bone is 42.1 mm, the diameter is 28 mm. The width of the lower end of the femur is 61.5 mm, the medial and lateral diameters are 77.7 and 64.5 mm, respectively. A significant part of the hard-to-identify fragments of bones and teeth, often dissolved in the stomachs of predators to an almost unrecognizable state, is identified as belonging to CapralOvis.
Conclusion
The taphocenosis of the Pleistocene layers of the Chagyr Cave, as well as other cave localities in Altai, was largely formed due to the food activity of large predators. Wolves and cave hyenas almost continuously used the cave as a shelter or den for breeding offspring.
During the accumulation of layers 6 and 6b, the cave periodically served as a parking lot for Paleolithic man. Its main prey was bison, mostly half-grown individuals or females. As a result of cutting up and eating parts of animal carcasses, a fairly large accumulation of fragmentary bone remains with signs of human activity gradually formed in the estuarine part. In the form of a vanishing plume, it can also be traced to the depth of the cave. Bison hunting may have been seasonal in nature and was timed to coincide with the route of its annual migrations along the Charysh Valley. Much less common prey of Paleolithic man was probably Ovodov's horse, argali, Siberian mountain goat, and reindeer.
The predominance of Bison priscus and Equus ovodovi remains in the tafocenosis of layer 6 suggests the predominance of steppe temperate arid landscapes. In layer 5, the proportion of bison remains decreases by 5.7 times, and the Siberian mountain goat and argali increases
page 42
by 1.8 times, which is probably a consequence of the significant aridization of the climate at this time. The presence of individual sable and beaver bones in layers 5 and 6 of the Chagyr cave indicates the presence of small areas of forest vegetation along the river banks and in mountain gorges.
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The article was submitted to the Editorial Board on 29.11.12, in the final version-on 03.12.12.
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