New data on the time and place of extinction of the woolly rhinoceros Coelodonta antiquitatis Blumenbach, 1799

Extinction of the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) in Eurasia: Review of chronological and environmental issues

“…For example, the 14 C date of 9510 ± 260 yr BP (IERZH‐93) from Lobvinskaya Cave in the Urals (Stuart & Lister 2007: p. 291; Kosintsev 2008: p. 265) is less reliable because a second rhinoceros date from this locality has turned out to be older, c . 12 280 yr BP (Stuart & Lister 2007; Orlova et al 2008). Fu (2002: p. 12) and Jin & Kawamura (1996: p. 319) assumed that rhinoceros existed in northeastern China until c .…”

“…It is important that the final extinction of the rhinoceros took place not in the Arctic but in the temperate zone of the European/Asian border area, unlike woolly mammoth, which finally became extinct in the Arctic regions (Stuart & Lister 2007; Vartanyan et al 2008). The problem with the rhinoceros is the still inadequate degree of direct 14 C dating of its remains; for example, fewer than 100 14 C values are known for eastern Europe, the Urals and Siberia (Garutt & Boeskorov 2001; Orlova et al 2008). Therefore, increasing the 14 C database for the rhinoceros in Eurasia is an urgent task in the years to come.…”

“…Some 14 C dates for rhinoceros from northern Asia within a range of c. 11 000-9500 yr BP cannot be accepted at face value. For example, the 14 C date of 9510AE260 yr BP (IERZH-93) from Lobvinskaya Cave in the Urals (Stuart & Lister 2007: p. 291;Kosintsev 2008: p. 265) is less reliable because a second rhinoceros date from this locality has turned out to be older, c. 12 280 yr BP (Stuart & Lister 2007;Orlova et al 2008). Fu (2002: p. 12) and Jin & Kawamura (1996: p. 319) assumed that rhinoceros existed in northeastern China until c. 10 600 yr BP (c. 10 940 yr BP according to 5730 yr half-life value for 14 C isotope used in China), based on the 14 C date of 10 940AE170 yr BP (no laboratory code given).…”

“…Orlova et al 2004a; Stuart & Lister 2007). Reviews of the chronological aspect of the extinction of mammoth and rhinoceros in northern Asia have recently been given in abridged form (Kuzmin 2008; Orlova et al 2008) and are now discussed in more detail.…”

Dangerous Giants? – Large Herbivores, Forest Feedbacks and Climate Tipping Points

“…Proboscideans are not the only giants we lost. For example, the Woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis Bronn) reached two tonnes or more and was common throughout Europe and northern Asia before going extinct around 10,000 years ago [21]. Isotopic analysis of horn proteins suggests a seasonal diet with summer grazing and winter browsing [22].…”