Khayrgas Cave - Layer 6 (1998-1999 pit)
Basic information
Sample name: Khayrgas Cave - Layer 6 (1998-1999 pit)

Reference: Y. V. Kuzmin, P. A. Kosintsev, A. D. Stepanov, G. G. Boeskorov, and R. J. Cruz. 2017. Chronology and faunal remains of the Khayrgas Cave (Eastern Siberia, Russia). Radiocarbon 59(2):575-582 [ER 3844]
Geography
Country: Russia

State: Yakutia (Republic of Sakha)


Coordinate: 59° 56' N, 117° 28' E
Coordinate basis: stated in text

Time interval: Late Pleistocene

Section: 3844

Unit number: 3

Unit order: above to below

Ma: 0.016

Age basis: radiocarbon (uncalibrated)

Geography comments: "Khayrgas Cave is located in the Middle Lena region of Yakutia (i.e. the Republic of Sakha) in the central part of eastern Siberia".
A single radiocarbon date on bone dates Layer 6 to around 16,000 ± 200 BP.

Environment
Lithology: not described

Taphonomic context: cave,bird accumulation,carnivore accumulation,human accumulation

Archaeology: bone tools,stone tools,other artifacts

Habitat comments: "Bone accumulation in the Khayrgas Cave was most likely due to the activity of predatory mammals (cave lion, wolf, red fox, ermine), birds of prey (eagle-owl), and humans".
"In Layer 6, 1203 stone artifacts and 59 bone items were found. Cores (conical, flat-faced, and wedge-shaped), retouched blades, and scrapers constitute the stone tool assemblage. Bone tools are represented by arrowheads, harpoons, pendants, and items with grooves for stone insets".

Methods
Life forms: bats,carnivores,rodents,ungulates,other small mammals,birds,fishes

Sampling methods: quarry

Sample size: 32 specimens

Years: 1998 - 1999

Sampling comments: "Khayrgas Cave was found and initially excavated in 1984–1985, and was continued in 1998–1999, with a total of 103 m2 unearthed. About 17,000 bones have been found at the site in total, although only a small fraction (6%) can be identified".
The species counts below pertain to the identified remains uncovered from Layer 6 of the 1998–1999 excavation pit. The remains from the 1985 pit are omitted as there is evidence suggesting a high degree of intermixing between layers.

Metadata
Sample number: 4203

Contributor: Benjamin Carter

Enterer: Benjamin Carter

Modifier no: John Alroy

Created: 2023-04-07 13:17:08

Modified: 2024-11-08 05:45:53

Abundance distribution
14 species
9 singletons
total count 32
geometric series index: 55.5
Fisher's α: 9.490
geometric series k: 0.8377
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.8427
Shannon's H: 2.2454
Good's u: 0.7208
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts.
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