Publication Date:
2018
Description:
〈div data-abstract-type="normal"〉〈p〉Higher δ〈span〉15〈/span〉N values in bone collagen of mammoth (〈span〉Mammuthus primigenius〈/span〉) compared with coeval large herbivores is a classic trait of the mammoth steppe. An exception applies to the Epigravettian site of Mezhyrich (ca. 18–17.4 ka cal BP) in the central East European plains, where mammoth bones have δ〈span〉15〈/span〉N values equivalent to or in a lower range than those of horse specimens (〈span〉Equus〈/span〉 sp.). We expanded our preliminary dataset to a larger sampling size of mammoth, other large herbivores, and carnivores from contemporaneous and nearby sites of Buzhanka 2, Eliseevichi, and Yudinovo. The unusual low mammoth δ〈span〉15〈/span〉N values were confirmed at Buzhanka 2 and for some specimens from Eliseevichi, while most individuals from Yudinovo displayed the expected high δ〈span〉15〈/span〉N values, meaning similar to those of the large canids. The possibility of a contrast in migration pattern is not supported since the δ〈span〉34〈/span〉S values, a marker of mobility, do not correlate with the δ〈span〉15〈/span〉N values of mammoth bone collagen. No clear chronological tendency could be revealed, at least not at the scale of radiocarbon dating. The low range in δ〈span〉15〈/span〉N values is likely to reflect a change in the specific niche of the mammoth in the southern part of its distribution.〈/p〉〈/div〉
Print ISSN:
0033-5894
Electronic ISSN:
1096-0287
Topics:
Geography
,
Geosciences
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