engleski

New Preliminary Results of the Paleontological Investigations of the Zala Cave near Ogulin

Zala Cave, mentioned by Josip Poljak in 1935 by the name Mikašinovića Cave, and also known as Savića Cave, is a speleological object situated northeastward from Ogulin, on the northern slope of the Krpelj hill, on the left side of the Bistrac brook canyon 1.5 km downstream from the spring. Previous archaeological investigations were performed from 2000 to 2011. Faunal remains of medium and large mammals (total taxa number = 18) show slightly bigger number of taxa determined in the Late Pleistocene deposits (n = 13) compared to those found in the Holocene deposits (n = 11). The following taxa were determined: Leporidae, Marmota marmota, Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Ursus sp., Martes sp., Meles meles, Felis silvestris, Sus scrofa, Capreolus capreolus, Cervus elaphus, Alces alces, Rupicapra rupicapra, Bos primigenius, and Ovis/Capra. Besides large mammals, small mammal remains have been also found in different layers, which we present here for the first time. These finds were discovered during excavations in 2005, and 2008 till 2011. From a total number of selected remains (NISP = 559) 78 osteo-dental remains were suitable for taxonomic determinations. For arvicolids (subfamily Arvicolinae Gray, 1821) the most characteristic and useful for the specific determinations are the first lower (m1 ; NISP = 46) and third upper (M3 ; NISP = 1) molars, while other taxa were determined on the basis of teeth, but also on other anatomical elements. Representatives of the following orders/families were found in the fossil material: Chiroptera, Eulipotyphla, Cricetidae, Arvicolidae, Muridae, and Gliridae. While they originate from the 11 layers, only for two layers absolute dating is available. The layer 100 is of 14.1±60 ka uncal BP (Beta-334806) age, while the layer 102 has an age of 13.34±60 ka uncal BP (Beta-334805). On the basis of selected osteo-dental finds it is possible to conclude that the remains of bat (Chiroptera) and mole (Talpa sp.) were found only in the Late Pleistocene layers 100 and 101, while the remains of Neomys sp., Cricetus sp., Chionomys nivalis, Arvicolidae indet., Gliridae indet., and Apodemus sp. only in the Holocene layers: 71, 77 and 85. All other taxa have been found in both Late Pleistocene (layers: 13, 97, 100, 101 and 102), and Holocene deposits (layers: 71, 71/89, 77, 82/89, 85, 97/89 and 105), and they are: Erinaceus roumanicus, Arvicola amphibius, Myodes glareolus, Microtus ex gr. arvalis/agrestis, M. ex gr. subterraneus/multiplex, Microtus sp. and Muridae indet. Typical forest dwellers (Myodes glareolus, Erinaceus roumanicus, glirids, murids) are present in the Holocene deposits. The animals of the open, grassy environments (e.g. Arvicola amphibius, Microtus ex gr. arvalis/agrestis, Microtus sp.) are more abundant in the Late Pleistocene layers. A total of 246 bird (Aves) remains was discovered in the cave deposits. Preliminary results show presence of aquatic taxa (Anseriformes). Such faunal aggregate refers to the temperate continental climate conditions during the Late/Latest Pleistocene and the beginning of Holocene with open, grassy habitats at the end of Pleistocene, while at the beginning of Holocene forest vegetation started to spread in Europe, and was common environmental characteristic in the vicinity of the Zala Cave as well.

Zala Cave ; small mammals ; birds ; Late Pleistocene/Holocene ; palaeoenvironment

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