Khayrgas Cave - Layer 4 (1998-1999 pit)
Basic information
Sample name: Khayrgas Cave - Layer 4 (1998-1999 pit)
Reference: Y. V. Kuzmin, P. A. Kosintsev, A. D. Stepanov, G. G. Boeskorov, and R. J. Cruz. 2017. Chronology and faunal remains of the Khayrgas Cave (Eastern Siberia, Russia). Radiocarbon 59(2):575-582 [ER 3844]
Geography
Country: Russia
State: Yakutia (Republic of Sakha)
Coordinate: 60° 56' N, 117° 28' E
Latlng basis: stated in text
Time interval: Holocene
Section: 3844
Unit number: 1
Unit order: above to below
Max Ma: 0.00816
Min Ma: 0.004785
Age basis: radiocarbon (uncalibrated)
Geography comments: "Khayrgas Cave is located in the Middle Lena region of Yakutia (i.e. the Republic of Sakha) in the central part of eastern Siberia".
Three radiocarbon dates on bone from Layer 4 of the 1998-1999 pit range from 8160 ± 80 to 4785 ± 60 BP.
Three radiocarbon dates on bone from Layer 4 of the 1998-1999 pit range from 8160 ± 80 to 4785 ± 60 BP.
Environment
Lithology: not described
Taphonomic context: cave, bird accumulation, carnivore accumulation, human accumulation
Habitat comments: "Bone accumulation in the Khayrgas Cave was most likely due to the activity of predatory mammals (cave lion, wolf, red fox, ermine), birds of prey (eagle-owl), and humans".
No artefacts from Layer 4 are described by the authors and there is no mention of whether any were found. The layer is however assigned to the "Mesolithic Sumnagin cultural complex".
No artefacts from Layer 4 are described by the authors and there is no mention of whether any were found. The layer is however assigned to the "Mesolithic Sumnagin cultural complex".
Methods
Life forms: carnivores, rodents, ungulates, other small mammals, birds, fishes
Sampling methods: quarry
Sample size: 180 specimens
Years: 1998 - 1999
Net or trap nights: 0
Basal area status: not applicable
Sampling comments: "Khayrgas Cave was found and initially excavated in 1984–1985, and was continued in 1998–1999, with a total of 103 m2 unearthed. About 17, 000 bones have been found at the site in total, although only a small fraction (6%) can be identified".
The species counts below pertain to the identified remains uncovered from Layer 4 of the 1998–1999 excavation pit. The remains from the 1985 pit are omitted as there is evidence suggesting a high degree of intermixing between layers.
The species counts below pertain to the identified remains uncovered from Layer 4 of the 1998–1999 excavation pit. The remains from the 1985 pit are omitted as there is evidence suggesting a high degree of intermixing between layers.
Metadata
Sample no: 4201
Contributor no: Benjamin Carter
Enterer: Benjamin Carter
Modifier no: John Alroy
Created: 2023-04-07 12:55:02
Modified: 2024-11-08 05:45:21
Abundance distribution
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts. Values are logged.
Statistics
17 species
3 singletons
total count 180
geometric series index: 26.9
Fisher's α: 4.606
geometric series k: 0.7821
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.8377
Shannon's H: 2.1503
Good's u: 0.9835
Register
| Lepus timidus | 22 | |
| Sciurus vulgaris | 33 | 311.0 g |
| Spermophilus sp. | 1 | |
| Myodes sp. | 2 | |
| "Clethrionomys sp." | ||
| Arvicola amphibius | 2 | |
| "Arvicola terrestris" | ||
| Microtus sp. | 5 | |
| Canis lupus (gray wolf) | 4 | 43.0 kg |
| Vulpes vulpes (red fox) | 2 | |
| Martes zibellina (sable) | 12 | |
| Lynx lynx (Eurasian lynx) | 1 | |
| Cervus elaphus (red deer) | 3 | |
| Capreolus pygargus (Siberian roe deer) | 3 | |
| Alces alces (moose) | 4 | 421.0 kg |
| Rangifer tarandus (reindeer) | 6 | 69.0 kg |
| Aves indet. | 51 | |
| Pisces indet. | 28 | |
| Moschus moschiferus (Siberian musk deer) | 1 | 9.3 kg |