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Large mammals in Lower Rampart Cave 1, Alaska: interspecific utilization of an eastern Beringian cave
Author(s) -
Sattler Robert A.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1520-6548(199709)12:6<657::aid-gea7>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - cave , holocene , pleistocene , fauna , geology , taphonomy , radiocarbon dating , archaeology , paleontology , geography , ecology , biology
Lower Rampart Cave 1 is a small shelter located in a riverine setting with rolling hills in northeastern Alaska (USA). The fill deposit consists of a cryogenic breccia with calcic Pleistocene and organic Holocene sediments in which there are 12 radiocarbon ages that range between 3500 and 38,000 years. The Pleistocene fauna consists mostly of limb and extremity skeletal elements of extinct herbivores, and the Holocene fauna includes numerous deciduous teeth and ravaged limbs and ribs from a bear skeleton. Carnivores periodically utilized the cave as a homesite during the Pleistocene and Holocene, and humans preyed on a hibernating bear in the later Holocene. The taphonomic history of the large mammalian faunas and a review of Beringian carnivore behavior reveals a model of interspecific utilization of small caves. The artifactual material and associated features indicate that cultural deposits are clearly demonstrated in this small arctic cave. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.