In:
Cahiers scientifiques du Muséum d'histoire naturelle de Lyon - Centre de conservation et d'étude des collections, PERSEE Program, Vol. 4, No. 1 ( 2002), p. 55-66
Abstract:
Jaurens is a small cave situated on the Causse de Martel in Corrèze and was excavated between 1968 and 1972. It yielded a hudge quantity of fossil verte -bate dating to about 30 000 years BP. The fossils, in a very good state of preservation, were probably deposited inside the cave as cadavers, in one event, after a violent flood of a river. Two species of Amphibians, two of Reptiles, ten of Birds (in total more than 60 individuals) and 49 of Mammals (7288 identifiable remains) were discovered. Among the Mammals, 3.4 % are of Rodents, 0.2 % Insectivores, 1.7 % Chiroptera, 44.4 % Artiodactyls, 20.8 % Carnivores, 0.5 % Lagomorphs, 28.6 % Perissodactyla and 0.3 % Proboscidians. Dominant mammalian species are Bison priscus, Equus germanicus and Rangifer taran-dus. There are some rare species, and some whose presence is rather surprising owing to the environmental context : Homo neanderthalensis, Gulo gulo, Mustela eversmanni, Hystrix cristata. Micromammmals are relatively rare because birds of prey could not nest easily enough on the walls of the cave. The site is purely palaeontological and display quite a large biodiversity. The mammalian population is comprised of individuals of all ages. The mosaic-type landscape was rather open, the climate moderately cold and humide ; the snow cover was limited.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1627-3516
DOI:
10.3406/mhnly.2002.1326
Language:
French
Publisher:
PERSEE Program
Publication Date:
2002
SSG:
12
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