CHRONOLOGY OF THE MIS 3 MEGAFAUNA IN SOUTHEASTERN WEST SIBERIA AND THE POSSIBILITY OF LATE SURVIVAL OF THE KHOZARIAN STEPPE MAMMOTH (MAMMUTHUS TROGONTHERII CHOSARICUS)

Abstract

We report a new series of radiocarbon (14C) dates on the MIS 3 megafauna for a previously poorly studied region of southeastern West Siberia. Some species, like woolly mammoth and woolly rhinoceros, and Pleistocene bison and horse, existed throughout the MIS 3 (ca. 29–59 ka cal BP); cave hyaena is dated to ca. 46,400 cal BP. The very late 14C dates on Khozarian steppe elephant (Mammuthus trogontherii chosaricus), ca. 45,100–45,400 cal BP, may indicate the survival of this species in Siberia up to MIS 3. More work is needed to confirm or reject this suggestion. Previously, Khozarian steppe elephant was known in Siberia only at the beginning of the Late Pleistocene (MIS 5e).

The Late Pleistocene megafauna of the Chulym River basin, southeastern West Siberian Plain: chronology and stable isotope composition

“…Morphologically, the Asino find is very close to the typical Khozarian steppe elephant from the lower course of the Volga River dated to the end of the Middle Pleistocene, MIS 6-7 (see details: Shpansky and Kuzmin, 2021). For typical M. trogontherii trogontherii, which is considered the older species and is associated with the early Middle Pleistocene, the frequency of plates over 10 cm on molar M 3 is ~5.6-6.5, and the enamel thickness is ~3.2 mm.…”

“…There is only sparse information on the chronology and stable isotopes of the Pleistocene megafauna in the Chulym River basin and neighbouring territories (Shpasnky, 2006; Shpansky et al ., 2016; Shpansky and Kuzmin, 2021; Malikov et al ., 2020). In recent years, more materials have become available (Table 1).…”

“…This pretreatment allowed us to remove all contamination from collagen, soils, charcoal, plant remains and other kinds of organic matter (e.g. Shpansky and Kuzmin, 2021; see also Solomina et al ., 2022; Sedov et al ., 2022). The material obtained was dried and used for analyses.…”

“…Kuzmin, 2010; Stuart and Lister, 2012; Rey‐Iglesia et al ., 2021), giant deer (Lister and Stuart, 2019), cave lion (Stuart and Lister, 2011), cave hyena (Stuart and Lister, 2014), cave bear (Pacher and Stuart, 2009; Terlato et al ., 2019), and Pleistocene bison and musk ox (Markova et al ., 2015). Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of 14 C‐dated localities is patchy, and some regions – such as Western Siberia – have still not been adequately studied (see Shpansky and Kuzmin, 2021). This is also true for investigation of the stable isotope values (for carbon and nitrogen) for the Late Pleistocene megafauna.…”

The Late Quaternary Megafaunal Extinctions in Worldwide Perspective – Review of Anthony J. Stuart. Vanished Giants: The Lost World of the Ice Age. 2021. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-22643-284-7. 310 pages, with 70 illustrations and 7 tables. List price $45 US (hardback).

“…40-43); the Khozarian steppe mammoth (Mammuthus trogontherii chosaricus) to ca. 45,300 cal BP (Shpansky and Kuzmin 2021); and a Merck's rhinoceros (Stephanorhinus kirchbergensis) to ca. 43,500 cal BP (Kirillova et al 2021).…”