Zooarchaeological analysis of the vertebrate assemblage from the palaeolithic site of la Adam cave Constanța County, Romania ndash; new developments

• Main Authors: Vasile, Ș., Dumitraşcu, V.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://ibn.idsi.md/vizualizare_articol/163749

First excavated in the mid-20th century, the Upper Pleistocene deposits of La Adam Cave Constanța County yielded few Mesolithic and Paleolitic artifacts, and numerous large mammal fossil remains, only briefly described at the time of their discovery. Recent excavations 2006-2009 produced new faunal remains and lithics. The faunal material, totalling 1,599 specimens, was studied, in order to assess the taxonomic affinities, taphonomy, and possible anthropic traces left on the fossil bones. The material is very fragmented, most specimens measuring up to 3 cm, hindering taxonomic assessment. The more complete specimens allowed the identification of cave bear Ursus spelaeus, wolf Canis lupus, red fox Vulpes vulpes, mustelids, woolly rhinoceros Coelodonta antiquitatis, horse Equus sp., indeterminate large and middle-sized bovids, boar Sus scrofa, and hare Lepus europaeus remains. Bone fragmentation can be linked to carnivore activity, either by gnawing or trampling, but falling limestone blocks may have also contributed. Many of the small bones show signs of chemical corrosion, produced either by carnivore digestion or action of acidic cave water. Fungal grooves and manganese oxides can also be seen on some bone fragments. Anthropic traces are rare, a single specimen bearing clear traces of human activity in the form of impact marks made by using the bone fragment as a percutor or retoucher.This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCSnbsp;- UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P1-1.1-TE-2021-0664, within PNCDI III Ș.V , and by EEA grant 126/2018, contract no. 3/2019nbsp;- KARSTHIVES2 Ș.V.