New insights into taphonomic analysis of the Upper Pleistocene Ursus spelaeus bone deposit from Bàsura cave (Toirano, NW Italy)

• Published in: Journal of Quaternary Science
• Main Authors: Zunino, Marta, Starnini, Elisabetta, Arobba, Daniele, Avanzini, Marco, Citton, Paolo, Firpo, Marco, Negrino, Fabio, Romano, Marco, Salvador, Isabella, Rellini, Ivano
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: John Wiley & Sons Ltd
• Subjects: BONE TAPHONOMY; CAVE SEDIMENT REWORKING; MICROMORPHOLOGY; URSUS ARCTOS; URSUS SPELAEUS; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; Patagonia; Argentina; Genova; Zunino; Ursus arctos
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/202293

Bàsura Cave (Toirano, NW Italy) became famous worldwide in 1950 for the discovery of prehistoric human footprints and of an impressive Ursus spelaeus bone deposit baptized by the first explorers ‘Cimitero degli Orsi’ (Bear Cemetery). Bear remains belonging to the deeper layer of the deposit have been left in situ and are now one of the principal attractions for visitors. A new research project aimed at re-evaluating the legacy and collections from this important cave involved the taphonomic study of the bones, along with sedimentological and micromorphological analyses and new radiocarbon dates to understand the nature and chronology of the deposit. In the present study, element quantification and state of preservation of bone surfaces displayed by distinct skeletal elements were analysed to assess the origin of bone accumulation, the composition of the assemblage in terms of age and species, and the representation of the different portions of the carcasses. Bone sorting, the orientation of skeletal elements along with oxidation pattern and micromorphological data indicate intense reworking of sediments and bones. The site can be considered among those known in Europe as representative of the last populations of U. spelaeus before the demise of this species during the Last Glacial Maximum. Fil: Zunino, Marta. Grotte Di Toirano; Italia Fil: Starnini, Elisabetta. Università degli Studi di Pisa; Italia Fil: Arobba, Daniele. Museo Archeologico del Finale; Italia Fil: Avanzini, Marco. Museo delle Scienze; Italia Fil: Citton, Paolo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; Argentina Fil: Firpo, Marco. Università degli Studi di Genova; Italia Fil: Negrino, Fabio. Università degli Studi di Genova; Italia Fil: Romano, Marco. Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; Italia Fil: Salvador, Isabella. Museo Delle Scienze; Italia Fil: Rellini, Ivano. Università degli Studi ...